Iran's Security Chief Heads to Oman for Crucial Nuclear Discussions
On Tuesday, a high-ranking Iranian security official will embark on a journey to Oman, a key player mediating discussions between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, which aim to avert a potential U.S. military strike.
Ali Larijani, who previously held the position of speaker in the Iranian Parliament and now acts as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, is expected to deliver Iran's response following the initial round of indirect negotiations that took place last week in Muscat.
His agenda includes meetings with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, the primary mediator in these discussions, as well as Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The state-run IRNA news agency has characterized these talks as “important,” though specifics regarding Larijani's message remain undisclosed.
Last week’s nuclear discussions in Oman saw Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirming Iran's stance on uranium enrichment, a contentious issue that has strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Tensions escalated following the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in June during the brief but intense Iran-Israel conflict, which had previously stalled negotiations between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington this week, where discussions are anticipated to center heavily on Iran.
In a show of military readiness, the U.S. has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln along with additional ships and warplanes to the Middle East, aiming to exert pressure on Iran for a favorable agreement while maintaining the capability for a potential strike should Trump decide on that course of action. Recently, U.S. forces intercepted a drone they claimed approached too closely to the Lincoln and intervened when Iranian forces attempted to halt a U.S.-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route.
On Monday, the U.S. Transportation Department's Maritime Administration issued a fresh advisory to American vessels navigating the strait, urging them to “remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety.” This strait is vital for global oil trade, with one-fifth of all oil passing through its waters, which are shared between Iran and Oman. Any vessels entering the Persian Gulf must traverse Iranian waters.
