Ankara: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the United States and Iran are showing signs of flexibility in efforts to revive a nuclear agreement. In an interview with the Financial Times, he expressed cautious optimism that both sides are looking for a practical solution.
Fidan said Washington appears open to allowing limited uranium enrichment under strict international monitoring. At the same time, Tehran is believed to be considering stronger inspection measures similar to those in the 2015 nuclear deal. He warned that expanding the talks beyond the nuclear issue could make progress more difficult.
Recent indirect discussions between officials from the United States and Iran took place in Oman, including meetings in Muscat. Both sides described the talks as a good start, though major differences remain.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his country is willing to open nuclear sites for verification to show that it does not seek nuclear weapons. However, questions remain about the level of access inspectors would receive and how sanctions relief would be handled.
In Washington, President Donald Trump has supported continuing diplomacy. After discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said negotiations should move forward. Israel has urged that any agreement should also address Iran’s missile program and its influence in the region.
The renewed talks come at a time of high tension in the Middle East. Diplomats say even limited progress could reduce the risk of conflict. But they also caution that deep mistrust on both sides means the path to a final agreement will not be easy.