Former Iranian FM voices optimism ahead of US talks

Representatives from Iran, Russia, and China began a trilateral meeting behind closed doors in Moscow on Tuesday, with no press access, according to Iranian state media.

The meeting, which started on Tuesday afternoon, was previously announced by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Baghaei said on Monday that the discussions would be held at an expert level and would focus on the Iranian nuclear program, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

According to the spokesman, the Iranian delegation consists of mid-level representatives and legal experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The specific agenda and expected duration of the trilateral meeting were not disclosed.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said again on Tuesday that Tehran will only engage in indirect talks with the United States, rejecting any attempts by Washington to impose its will through pressure and threats.

Speaking to Iranian media, Araghchi said, "The format we prefer is indirect negotiations, and our reasons are clear. If they want to impose their will through pressure and threats, that is not negotiation; that is dictation."

"The format of the negotiations, whether direct or indirect, isn't, in my view, the most important thing." He added, "What really matters is whether the talks are effective, the seriousness and intentions of both sides, and their commitment to reaching an agreement."

Araghchi, who is slated to lead the Iranian delegation in upcoming discussions in Oman, argued that the indirect format is more conducive to effective and fruitful negotiations.

He pointed to historical precedent and the ongoing indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine as examples.

He firmly dismissed reports in foreign media suggesting a two-stage process involving initial indirect talks followed by direct engagement. "The news in foreign media about the negotiations initially being indirect and then direct is baseless, and we have no such agreement with the other side.”

Iran’s currency strengthened modestly on Tuesday, recovering from historic lows as anticipation grew over high-level indirect talks with the United States scheduled to take place this weekend in Oman.

The rial, which hit a record low of 1,050,000 per US dollar last month, bounced back to about 960,000 rials on Tuesday amid growing anticipation of renewed diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

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Fars News Agency said the vessel was intercepted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy and that six individuals were arrested. It did not specify the nationality of the tanker or those detained. Fars added that 100,000 liters of smuggled fuel were discovered during the inspection of the tanker.

The reported seizure follows an operation last month in which the IRGC detained two foreign tankers allegedly carrying over three million liters of smuggled diesel fuel. Those vessels, intercepted by the IRGC’s Second Naval District, were said to be systematically involved in fuel trafficking and were being moved to the port of Bushehr under judicial orders.

The IRGC regularly announces such actions, saying they are part of efforts to combat fuel smuggling in the Persian Gulf, a vital maritime route through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes.

Iran has previously seized tankers over alleged maritime violations or as retaliatory measures.

In April 2023, the Iranian Navy detained the Advantage Sweet, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, in the Gulf of Oman, citing a collision with an Iranian vessel.

In January, Iran seized the St. Nikolas, also Marshall Islands-flagged, in response to a US confiscation of Iranian oil the previous year.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have flared in recent years over a series of maritime incidents in the region, often involving oil shipments and sanctions enforcement.

The rial, which hit a record low of 1,050,000 per US dollar last month, bounced back to about 960,000 rials on Tuesday amid growing anticipation of renewed diplomacy between Tehran and Washington.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed on Tuesday that the talks will be held indirectly, mediated by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. “In the negotiation, what is important for the people and the national interests will be our focus,” she said.

The Iranian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US side will be represented by Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, according to Iranian and US media reports.

While US President Donald Trump has said the talks will be direct and at a senior level, Iranian state-affiliated media said otherwise.

Nournews, a site close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described Trump’s comments as part of a “psychological operation” meant to shift blame and shape public perception.

The rial’s gains follow a period of sharp decline, triggered by the absence of negotiations, ongoing US sanctions and Trump's 'maximum pressure' policy on Iran, and escalating regional tensions fueled by Iran's allies.

Inflation in food and other essentials has soared, with local producers citing rising packaging and transport costs as major drivers. Over one third of Iranians now live below the poverty line in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

Iran’s currency has halved in value since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office in August.