Iran Sets Unbreakable 'Red Lines' in Nuclear Talks

WASHINGTON, TUESDAY — Amid the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, Tehran emphasized that there are red lines that must not be crossed. Delegations from both countries described the first round of talks in Oman as productive and stated that they would meet again in the next round.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued his first statement commenting on the Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations. "The talks are one of a dozen files being pursued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic about them. Nevertheless, this is a decided process, and its initial steps have been carried out well," Khamenei said during a meeting with members of parliament.

Iranian and U.S. officials met in Muscat, Oman, on Saturday (12/4/2025) to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witfkoff in "indirect" talks, according to Iranian media and officials.

This is the highest-level discussion between the two countries regarding Iran's nuclear program since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement stalled in 2015. The JCPOA offered relief from international sanctions for Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

Tehran approached the discussion cautiously and doubted the possibility of reaching an agreement with the US. This is because the US demands that Iran completely halt its nuclear program. Iran insists that nuclear development is intended for civilian and peaceful purposes.

Iran also harbors suspicions toward U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump withdrew from the JCPOA during the first term of his administration in 2018. Prior to the talks, Trump even issued threats to attack Iran if the negotiations failed to reach an agreement.

Since coming back to office in January 2025, Trump has re-instated a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran. In March, he sent a letter to Khamenei, asking for nuclear talks while warning of possible military action if Iran refused.

Khamenei said Tehran overall has a “very pessimistic” view of the US. He said the US should not link its national affairs to the nuclear talks. “In the future, (the talks) must be focused. The red line is clear to us and the opposing side, the talks may or may not achieve results,” he said.

On Monday, in front of reporters, Trump said about Iran. "I will solve the problem. It's easy for me," he said.

However, Trump has shown a different approach. He seems to want the US and Iran to reach a deal, especially to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. One of them is seen from the statement on April 11, the day before the nuclear talks.

The New York Times reported that on Air Force One, Trump said he hoped the talks in Oman would lead to a deal. "I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they must not have nuclear weapons," he said.

In February, Trump made similar remarks. “I want a non-nuclear deal with Iran. I would rather have that than bomb it to death,” he said in an interview with The New York Post, according to CNBC.

Witkoff said the diplomatic agreement hinges on a detailed settlement of Iran’s uranium enrichment and weapons program. “It’s going to be a lot about enrichment verification, and then ultimately weapons verification. That includes missiles, the types of missiles they have, and the triggers for the bombs,” he said in an interview on Fox News.

The British media, The Guardian, called Witkoff's statement an attempt by the US government to map out Iran's true nuclear capabilities. This is the same as the intention of the 2015 JCPOA.

Nader Itayim, Gulf editor at Argus Media, was quoted as saying by CNBC that the US's intention in the nuclear talks was to dismantle Iran's entire nuclear program or simply ensure through verification that there were no nuclear weapons in Iran's program.

“I think Donald Trump has been very clear over the last two, three weeks in particular: no (nuclear) weapons. Weapons are that red line,” Itayim said.

Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council, said that negotiations that appear to be heading in a positive direction must be protected from those who would seek to derail them. “Each party must exercise restraint. For the United States, that could mean reducing the military threat. President Trump must also ensure that Israel does not act behind the government’s back and take provocative actions that could derail negotiations, including sabotage, as we saw in 2021,” he said.

Foreign Minister Araqchi is reportedly set to visit Russia this week ahead of the second round of talks on Iran's nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghei said that during the meeting, Araqchi will specifically discuss the latest developments from the talks in Oman with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Russia is a party to the 2015 Iran nuclear pact. Moscow supports Tehran's right to have a civilian nuclear program.

This is the second meeting between Iran and Russia. China was present at the meeting. However, for this meeting, it is not clear whether Beijing will participate.

The meeting with Russia is significant because Iran and Russia have ratified a strategic partnership agreement for the next 20 years. "The agreement takes Russian-Iranian relations to a new level," Duma (Lower House) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin was quoted as saying by the Moscow Times.

The pact, signed in early January by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to deepen cooperation in a number of areas, including defense, intelligence, trade and nuclear energy. Key provisions of the agreement include an agreement to counter common threats, exchange intelligence and refrain from aiding an aggressor state if one of the countries is attacked by an enemy.

Emil Avdaliani, a professor of international relations at Tsibilisi University in Georgia, as reported by the Stimson Center, assessed that the close relationship between Russia and Iran is to increase pressure on the US. Both countries need each other because both are the objects of US economic sanctions and Western allies. (AP/AFP/Reuters)