Iran says seeks 'real and fair' deal in nuclear talks with US

Iran is seeking a "real and fair" agreement with the United States on its nuclear program, a senior aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday, setting the stage for a diplomatic showdown this weekend in Oman.

Longtime adversaries Iran and the U.S. are set to hold talks on Saturday in Muscat, aimed at reaching a potential nuclear deal. U.S. President Donald Trump last month sent a letter to Khamenei urging negotiations and warning of possible military action if Tehran refuses.

"Far from putting up a show and merely talking in front of the cameras, Tehran is seeking a real and fair agreement, important and implementable proposals are ready," Khamenei adviser Ali Shamkhani said in a post on X.

He said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heading to Oman "with full authority for indirect negotiations with America," adding that if Washington showed honesty and a genuine will to reach a deal, the path forward would be "clear and smooth."

In the lead-up to Saturday's talks, both sides have engaged in a war of words that saw Trump threaten military action if the discussions fail.

Responding to Trump's threat, Shamkhani said Iran could expel United Nations nuclear inspectors, prompting in turn a U.S. warning that such action would be an "escalation".

On Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran was "giving diplomacy a genuine chance in good faith and full vigilance."

"America should appreciate this decision, which was made despite their hostile rhetoric," Baqaei said in a post on X.

- Threats -

Tehran responded later to Trump's letter, saying it was open to indirect negotiations and dismissed the possibility of direct talks as long as the United States maintains its "maximum pressure" policy.

Trump said the talks would be "direct" but Iran has insisted they would be "indirect".

Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff are due to lead the talks in Oman.

Ahead of the planned talks, Washington imposed additional sanctions on Iran targeting its oil network and nuclear program.

The talks will be held as Iran reels from significant setbacks suffered by its regional allies -- including Palestinian Hamas militants and Hezbollah in Lebanon -- in conflicts with Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

The war saw rare direct attacks between Iran and Israel for the first time, after engaging in a shadow war for years.

On Wednesday, Trump said military action against Iran was "absolutely" possible if talks failed to produce a deal.

"If it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will obviously be very much involved in that, be the leader of that," Trump said.

Shamkhani later warned such threats could prompt measures including the expulsion of U.N. nuclear watchdog inspectors from Iran and consideration of the transfer of "enriched materials to secure locations," referring to the country's uranium enrichment.

Washington responded by saying the threat was "inconsistent with Iran's claims of a peaceful nuclear program" and that expelling U.N. nuclear inspectors would be "an escalation and a miscalculation on Iran's part."

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

- Cautious approach -

Ahead of the talks, hardline media in Iran voiced skepticism.

The Kayhan newspaper ran editorials warning the new U.S. sanctions showed that Washington was "an enemy of Iran and its people," and dismissing negotiations to lift sanctions as a "failed strategy."

In contrast, several reformist media outlets struck a more optimistic tone, emphasizing the potential economic and investment opportunities the talks could create.

Tehran has long been wary about engaging in talks with Washington, often citing previous experience and undermined trust.

During his first term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed sweeping economic sanctions.

Tehran adhered to the 2015 deal for a year after Washington withdrew but later began rolling back its own commitments.

In its latest quarterly report in February, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilograms (605 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent. Weapons grade is around 90 percent.

Iran has also increased the number of centrifuges.

Baqaei said Iran will "neither prejudge nor predict" ahead of Saturday's meeting in Oman, a long-established venue for Iranian talks.

"We intend to assess the intentions and seriousness of the other side on Saturday and adjust our next moves accordingly," said Baqaei.