The United States-Iran nuclear negotiations started in Oman for the first time in years

Muscat, Oman: The United States and Iran held high-level negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program on Saturday, threatening military action if President Donald Trump fails to reach a deal.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the two sides conducted “indirect” negotiations in Muscat, the capital of Oman, through intermediaries. Americans called for a meeting to be face to face.

Differences over this format suggest that long-term opponents are tasked with seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump withdraws from an earlier deal in his first term in 2018.

Foreign Secretary Abbas Araghchi leads the Iranian delegation, while Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is in charge of the U.S. team.

“Our aim is to reach a fair and glorious agreement from an equal standpoint,” Araghchi said in a video released by Iran State Television.

Iran is seeking to alleviate sanctions due to Israel’s weakening of Lebanon’s allies Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza.

Despite Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign strengthening sanctions and repeated military threats, Tehran agreed to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the United States is in control of the hostile Israel with Iran, hoping to prevent Tehran from approaching the development of a nuclear bomb.