This week, indirect talks between Iran and senior US representatives took place in Oman, marking the first discussions since the April attacks. The purpose of these talks, confirmed by the Iranian Government, is to contain the regional escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which reached a critical point in April with Iran’s first direct attack on Israeli territory.
According to Iranian representative Saeed Iravani, these negotiations are part of an ongoing process and are not the first of their kind. Details of the talks were not disclosed. The April attack by Iran involved the firing of 350 projectiles towards an Israeli air base in response to an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the death of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander.
The US representation in the talks was led by Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and acting envoy to Iran Abram Paley. The negotiations, facilitated by Omani mediators, focused on clarifying the consequences of Iran’s actions and those of its related militias in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Issues related to Iran’s nuclear program were also discussed.
The talks took place in a similar format to previous rounds, with American and Iranian representatives in separate rooms and Omani mediators facilitating communication between the two parties. The discussions aimed to address US concerns about Iran’s actions in the region and seek ways to prevent further escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.