News on Iran Situation Comes to Light

Diplomats representing Iran were on their best behavior at the nuclear talks back in April. Not only did they show up in Oman as scheduled, the initially indirect meeting ended with direct contact. Things went so well that both parties agreed to meet again in a week. That doesn’t mean Trump hit pause on his three month countdown timer. The one he started about nine weeks ago. When it hits zero, the bombers take off. Unless there’s a deal in final.

Iran stalling for time

Its’ clear that Iran is only appearing to cooperate in a futile attempt to delay the inevitable death and destruction.

President Donald Trump doesn’t expect the Ayatollah to suddenly cave in and agree to totally disarm. In fact, he’s not-so-secretly hoping the Iranians will ignore his clear warnings.

Trump has repeatedly advised Iran to “reach a deal that makes sure it can’t obtain a nuclear weapon or face the prospect of military strikes.”

The U.S. media gasps that striking the Ayatollah’s nuclear sites would “lead to war.” Only if there is enough of the country left to retaliate, Trump reminds.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi started the bargaining with White House Envoy Steve Witkoff by exchanging messages through their Omani hosts. By the end of the day they were in the same room, though the Iranians were sort of cornered into that.

That became a historic event as “the first time the U.S. and Iran engaged directly,” since Barack Obama and John Kerry were airlifting them pallets of cash.

Issues are complicated

Only a diplomat could consider the phase “stop working to build a nuclear bomb now” as “complicated” but that’s why they get the big bucks.

The official White House statement notes “these issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.” Iran was in complete agreement with the Americans about one thing.

The Omanis were laughing at the way both “U.S. and Iranian officials used similar language to describe their primary objective for Saturday’s talks.”

Both of them were “determining whether the other side is serious or just stringing them along.” Trump will definitely bomb you, Witkoff assured. The U.S. is serious. We need more time, Iran whined.

Fine, take all the time you need, Witkoff told the Iranian delegation. Just don’t go past the deadline Trump spelled out in writing in his letter to the Ayatollah. All they’re saying on TV in Iran is that “there were four exchanges of messages through the Omani mediators during the talks.”

Iran seems to understand they can’t drag their feet for long. “Neither we nor the other side are looking for a fruitless dialogue, talks for talks and wasting time. Both sides acknowledged that their desired outcome is an agreement that can be reached in the shortest possible time.”

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