Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East and peacekeeping missions, landed tonight (February 5) in Muscat (on the photo), the capital of Oman (https://www.jpost.com/international/article-885777).
Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran set out yesterday—over Strait of Ormuz, to Muscat. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iranian-foreign-minister-heads-to-oman-for-nuclear-talks-with-us/3821850).
Witkoff and Araghchi will lead a historic round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran on the “nuclear issue” according to earlier announcements by the official Tehran. And this time, despite earlier announcements by Washington that this time there should be other topics on the agenda, at least that’s what the “Jerusalem Post” states.
The first step? A concession? The outcome will still be widely evaluated on both sides, in the region, but also around the world.
In the meantime, US President Donald Trump has previously emphasized that in the case of Iran, he can give priority to diplomacy, even among other options. (https://www.ynetnews.com/article/q3hoxgv6t).
On the other hand, Tehran now seems very interested in the upcoming dialogue (regardless of the still unspecified form of “indirect” exchange of opinions).
“This diplomatic dialogue is conducted responsibly and with the aim of achieving a fair, acceptable and respectful understanding regarding the nuclear issue,” Ismael Baghei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced yesterday. (https://www.saba.ye/en/news3641668.htm).
According to Baghei: “At the same time, we bear the responsibility not to miss any opportunity to use diplomacy to protect the interests of the Iranian people and maintain peace and stability in the region.”
How much room there is for optimism, that the high emissaries of Washington and Tehran will reach a mutually acceptable agreement this time, is uncertain.
Be that as it may, Muscat once again showed that it has been a kind of “diplomatic magnet” for Americans, Iranians, and a number of other influential actors for some time.
For example, Oman, in the arena of highly divided parties, once publicly supported Egypt’s peace talks with Israel in 1977 and the negotiations at Camp David in 1978. As far back as 1980, Muscat was the first Arab capital to enter into a delicate military agreement with America.
Former CIA director William Burns, in his book “Back Channel”, revealed how much role Oman’s mediation played in the signing of the West’s nuclear deal with Iran in 2015. According to Burns, Iranian officials sent a message through Oman back in 2012 to suggest the first meeting in Muscat to the US.
How much the skills of the diplomats of the “Switzerland of the Middle East”—as Oman is seen by many, will be able to bring Witkoff and Araghchi closer this coming weekend, looks like the “million dollar question.”
