Behind the scenes of the Muscat talks; diplomatic calm or continued tension?
A new round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States was held in Muscat, mediated by Oman, and ended with an agreement to continue the talks. The parties described this round as preliminary and follow-up, and the results were to be reviewed in the capitals. The official atmosphere was cautious and without any announcement of progress.
Before the talks, the United States sent a signal of hard pressure by highlighting the military presence and the unexpected presence of the CENTCOM commander. Immediately after the talks, new sanctions were imposed; a model of diplomacy combined with pressure that is interpreted as aiming to increase bargaining leverage.
In contrast, Iran, without changing its declared positions, emphasized indirect negotiations and a focus solely on the nuclear file, and showed no sign of being influenced by external pressure. The outcome of the scene is a fluid and uncertain situation; neither an agreement is available nor a definitive defeat.
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