WANA (May 11) – The fourth round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States began moments ago in Muscat, mediated by Oman.

 

As in previous rounds, Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff are leading the Iranian and American delegations, respectively. While U.S. media claim Washington’s technical experts are absent, Iran’s expert team is present and will be consulted as needed, according to the Iranian Foreign Minister.

 

The Foreign Minister, who returned from Doha to Tehran early Sunday for further consultations, expressed hope that today’s talks would reach a decisive outcome.

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that the Iranian delegation, following official directives, is fully committed to defending the nation’s interests, preserving its peaceful nuclear achievements, and working toward lifting unjust economic sanctions.

 

As before, Iran’s delegation includes experts in legal, nuclear, and economic fields, reflecting the issues under discussion. This round was initially set for last Saturday but was delayed due to logistical reasons, as confirmed by Oman.

 

Despite ongoing talks, the U.S. continues to enforce sweeping sanctions on Iran, maintaining its “maximum pressure” policy—a stance heavily criticized by Tehran.

 

Analysts argue that the U.S.’s dependence on sanctions and Israeli influence over institutions like OFAC cast doubt on its commitment to lifting sanctions.

 

Iranian officials have consistently stated that their main demand is the removal of sanctions and the preservation of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

 

Analysts also point to a lack of U.S. effort in assuring Iran of its willingness and capacity to uphold any future commitments, further complicating the path to a potential agreement.