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U.S. envoy meets Iran in Oman; State Department says 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon' as negotiations continue
Summary
At a State Department briefing the spokesperson summarized talks Ambassador Witkoff held with Iranian counterparts in Oman and reiterated the administration's stated objective that Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon or an enrichment program.
Tammy, State Department spokesperson, told reporters that Ambassador Witkoff’s talks with Iran in Oman were “very positive and constructive” and that the sides agreed to meet again, while stressing the administration’s hard line on nuclear weapons.
The spokesperson quoted the ambassador as saying, “a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal,” and said U.S. negotiators aim for an outcome that “must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in The Middle East, meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
Why it matters: Any talks that affect Iran’s enrichment capabilities would have wide implications for nonproliferation policy, regional security in the Middle East and U.S. relations with allies.
Reporters asked whether the administration would accept an arrangement allowing Iran a civilian nuclear program with limits on enrichment speed. Tammy declined to offer detailed negotiating positions and referred to the White House and ambassador’s public remarks, but she reiterated a succinct goal: "there's 1 goal here and that is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and certainly they or the enrichment program" — language she presented discussing the administration's aims.
The spokesperson cautioned against parsing individual public statements and tweets as definitive negotiating positions. She said that Ambassador Witkoff and the U.S. team are experienced negotiators and that “what matters is an end result, our parties agreeing, papers being signed.”
On specific numbers: reporters noted that Ambassador Witkoff had said in different settings that Iran's enrichment might be kept below 3.67% (a level associated with the JCPOA) and elsewhere had used language of eliminating enrichment. Tammy declined to reconcile those public statements, saying negotiators do not typically negotiate in public and that the White House should be contacted for further detail.
Ending: The State Department spokesperson said talks will continue and that the U.S. objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon; she stressed that progress will be judged by written agreements rather than interim public comments.
