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US and Iranian officials hold indirect talks in Oman

(Worthy News) – While official talks on reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran nuclear deal have apparently stalled, US and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Oman last month, Axios reports.

Representing the first indirect communication between the US and Iran in months, the purpose of the talks was for the Biden administration and Tehran to come to an “understanding” about de-escalating the Iranian nuclear program, as well as about Iran’s behavior in the Middle East and its involvement in the war in Ukraine, three sources briefed in the matter told Axios.

According to the Axios sources the US and Iranian officials did not meet face to face but were located in separate rooms, with Omani officials carrying messages back and forth between them. The American delegations included White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, while the group of Iranian officials included top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kan, one of the sources told Axios.

The US is understood to have informed the Iranians that there will be a heavy price for Iran to pay if it continues its advance toward 90% uranium enrichment, the level required for developing a nuclear bomb.

Meanwhile, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said US policy on Iran has not changed: “We remain focused on constraining Iran’s destabilizing behavior through pressure, close coordination with our allies, and de-escalation in the region. That includes ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon so of course, we are watching closely Iran’s enrichment activities,” the spokesperson said.