Iran-U.S. talks over Tehran’s nuclear program are due to start in Oman on Saturday, mediated by local Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, its main goal is the lifting of sanctions.
The program of nuclear research and construction of as many as 23 nuclear power plant reactors was started by the Shah in the early 70s. For this purpose he signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968. A share in the largest European uranium enrichment enterprise was bought. Persian specialists went to France to study.
After the Islamic Revolution, the program was forgotten for a long time. In 1989, it was resumed. An enrichment plant appeared in the vicinity of Isfahan, and it is not clear who taught the Iranians how to build their centrifuges.
Since 2003, the U.S. began active measures against Tehran’s nuclear program, at the same time the UN Security Council approved sanctions. Subsequently, they became increasingly tougher. The assassinations of nuclear physicists by Israeli agents began.
In 2015, the US, France, UK, Germany, China and Russia reached an agreement on the nuclear program with full access of IAEA experts to any facilities upon request. The EU lifted most sanctions, trade revived dramatically. Then Trump came in and lifted all of them in 2018.
Understandably, Iran immediately resumed uranium enrichment. Episodically, talks have been attempted to resume, which Israel has resisted in every possible way. The last attempt to talk was in September 2022.
Now Trump will try on new terms, obviously tougher, to stop Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s nuclear program. The U.S. president previously sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader urging him to agree to a new deal or face military action. No major ground operation is in question, but bombings are likely. It’s unclear what role they will play – more likely to rally the divided Persians in the face of external attack.
Why Trump was unhappy with the previous agreement is not entirely clear. But let’s remember that it was negotiated for three years on a tight schedule. He is an impatient man, he may not be able to take it.
