Iran has announced its readiness to engage in nuclear talks with the United States, signaling a possible thaw in long-standing tensions between the two nations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran is prepared to enter negotiations with the U.S. this coming Saturday and is also open to signing a new agreement. However, Tehran has placed a critical condition before proceeding further.

According to Araghchi, the United States must first halt its military threats. He emphasized that discussions around a nuclear deal can only begin once President Donald Trump withdraws all forms of military intimidation. Iran, he reiterated, will not tolerate coercion or pressure in any form. His statement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly following a series of escalating threats exchanged earlier this month.

On April 1st, President Trump warned that if Iran fails to comply with the terms of the existing nuclear agreement, the U.S. would launch airstrikes against the country. He further declared that the severity of such attacks would be “unexpected and extreme.” In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a strong warning, asserting that any aggression from the U.S. would be met with severe retaliation. He emphasized that Iran would defend itself decisively against any foreign incursion.

Abbas Araghchi also confirmed that preliminary nuclear discussions are scheduled to take place in Oman, although he clarified that these will be indirect talks. Contradicting this, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier stated on Monday that direct negotiations would commence between the two nations. Expressing optimism, Trump said high-level discussions would begin Saturday, but he also issued a warning that failure in the dialogue could lead to grave consequences for Iran.

Despite the conflicting interpretations regarding the nature of the discussions, both sides have acknowledged Oman as the venue for the upcoming talks. Iran, however, maintains that it will engage only in indirect communication unless its conditions are met. In a recent statement, Araghchi referred to the upcoming meeting as both an opportunity and a challenge. “The ball is now in America’s court,” he declared, implying that Iran’s participation in further negotiations depends on the next move from the U.S. administration.

Meanwhile, discussions between Iran, Russia, and China are scheduled to take place in Moscow on Tuesday. These talks will also center on Iran’s nuclear program and are expected to influence the broader diplomatic landscape. The involvement of Moscow and Beijing, both key players in global geopolitics and longstanding allies of Tehran, may further shape the outcomes of the upcoming negotiations with Washington.

The diplomatic maneuvering marks a critical juncture in Iran-U.S. relations, particularly after the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal under the Trump administration in 2018. Since then, efforts to revive the agreement have been met with a series of obstacles, ranging from mutual distrust to regional security concerns.

With renewed discussions on the horizon, international observers are watching closely to see whether this new phase of engagement can lead to a lasting resolution or further deepen the impasse. Both sides appear to be walking a fine line between diplomacy and confrontation, with the world waiting to see which path will ultimately prevail.