In a recent interview, Steve Witkov, President Trump’s envoy for Middle Eastern affairs, indicated that the U.S. might reconsider its ongoing nuclear talks with Iran if meaningful progress isn’t made during the upcoming meeting in Oman this Sunday.
“I found the previous discussions to be unproductive because we need a clear understanding with them, and ideally, this Sunday will facilitate that,” he stated.
Witkov, who manages a significant foreign policy agenda, including efforts towards a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas, is set to travel to Oman for a fourth round of nuclear discussions between Washington and Tehran.
The talks are expected to feature both direct and indirect communication, as has been the case in prior meetings.
“Iran’s enrichment program can never return to its former state. That’s our red line. If enrichment is not allowed, it implies dismantling; no weaponization will occur. Key facilities include Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan,” he emphasized.
Witkov played a significant role in negotiations on behalf of the U.S., while Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who recently asserted that Iran should be permitted to enrich uranium.
“As founding signatories of the NPT, Iran has every right to pursue a complete nuclear fuel cycle. Moreover, there are several NPT members enriching uranium often without weapons ambitions. Besides Iran, this includes various countries across Asia, Europe, and South America,” he shared on social media last Friday. “The heightened rhetoric and positioning achieve nothing but diminish the chances of success.”
To date, there have been three rounds of discussions, with two held in Muscat, Oman, and one in Rome.
The fourth round, originally planned for Italy, was postponed last week due to “logistical reasons,” according to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Bucey.
Witkov conveyed to Breitbart News that Iran has expressed its disinterest in developing nuclear weapons.
“They claimed they do not want that,” he said. “For the purpose of this dialogue, we’ll take them at their word. If that is genuinely their stance, their enrichment sites must be dismantled.”
Witkov’s forthcoming discussions in Oman will precede Trump’s multinational trip to the Middle East next week.
Recently, Trump has cautioned Tehran that military action could resume as diplomatic efforts concerning Iran’s growing nuclear ambitions falter.
Witkov remarked that the potential nuclear agreement with Iran is more stringent than the one established by former President Obama.
“First and foremost, the sanctions are unraveling, and there isn’t a sunset clause on their obligations. That doesn’t make sense,” he stated. “The previous JCPOA was fundamentally flawed.”
