Three reasons why Iran believes it holds the upper hand in talks with the US
This handout picture provided by Khabar Online on April 12, 2025, shows Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (2nd-L) speaking with members of the Iranian delegation after a meeting in Muscat. The United States wants a nuclear agreement "as soon as possible", Iran said after rare talks on April 12, as US President Donald Trump threatens military action if they fail to reach a deal. Araghchi, who briefly spoke face-to-face with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff during the indirect meeting in Oman, said the talks would resume on April 19. (Photo by KhabarOnline / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KhabarOnline" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
As delegates from the US and Iran hail the first round of "indirect" nuclear talks in Oman as constructive, Iran claims Tehran has a clear edge over the US in the talks, despite American effort to portray otherwise.
Tehran has an upper hand as talks are set to continue, according to a report that appeared in Mehr News, a semi-official news agency of the government of Iran. Iran's superiority is evident in three areas: limiting negotiations to the nuclear file, choosing the location of the talks, and maintaining indirect communication, the report added.
Though Iran wasn't initially enthusiastic about the talks, it decided to engage in "indirect talks" amid pressure from hardliners at home. Tehran had then insisted that the negotiations would focus only on its nuclear programme, not its broader defence capability, such as its ballistic missile programme.
However, Mehr News added that this "shouldn't lead to optimism or excitement" as the US could break promise as "the Americans are known for deceit". They may raise unrelated issues once talks begin or during the process, Mehr News warned.
Selecting Oman as the venue was done at Iran's insistence. Unlike the UAE, Oman has stayed neutral between Iran and the US, for which it drew flak from the US. The Kingdom has earlier too acted as an intermediary between the US and its political adversaries, including Yemen, Syria, and previously with Iran over reviving the nuclear deal Trump abandoned in his first term, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
However, it is almost certain that the next round of talks wouldn't be held in Iran, but in some other Middle Eastern nation.
With regard to the indirect nature of negotiations, Iran believes this allows it to "withdraw without significant or minimal cost" if the US brings up unrelated topics such as Iran's defense capabilities or regional issues. The report added that Trump’s "false claims about the nature of the talks" prompted Tehran to do so.
After the talks, On April 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Oman talks are an opportunity to test the seriousness of the US, “which has a long history of non-commitment and unilateralism."
Middle East