Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accepted US President Donald Trump’s offer for nuclear talks, after months of rejection. The shift comes as pressure mounts on the Islamic Republic from both domestic and external sources.
In early 2020, Khamenei rejected Trump’s initial overtures, stating that negotiating with Washington was “not honorable.” However, a recent meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East Envoy Steven Witkoff at Oman’s foreign minister residence has marked a significant shift in the negotiations.
The two sides had spent close to five hours exchanging written messages as mediator Oman’s diplomat. The direct discussion underscores how weak Khamenei finds himself, with Trump wanting to ensure Iran won’t build nuclear weapons and Iran seeking relief from economic sanctions and protection from Israeli or American military strikes.
Growing external pressure, combined with domestic constraints, has pushed Khamenei’s regime to reconsider its stance. The US and its allies in the Middle East are keen on preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, while Tehran seeks to alleviate the crippling economic sanctions it faces.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/04/iran-us-nuclear-negotiations/682465