Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking with a senior Tehran official on Tuesday, approved progress in meetings with the US, but was skeptical of their success.
“We should not be overly optimistic about this dialogue, nor should we be overly pessimistic,” said Khamenei, 85.
“The first step worked well and was carried out properly. From now on, the process should be followed carefully,” he added.
He emphasized, “The red line is clear – for both the other side and us. We may or may not achieve results, but either way, it is worth pursuing.”
He also urged authorities to talks “not to link national issues.”
“Of course we don’t trust them completely – we know who’s dealing with them,” Khamenei added.
“But we are optimistic about our abilities.”
Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkov said future U.S. Iranian consultations will focus on uranium enrichment and arms development verification.
“Conversations with Iranians will be bigger in two important points. One is concentrated. There’s no need to enrich the past 3.67%. Depending on the situation, 60% and the others are 20%.”
“So this would be about verifying the enrichment program and ultimately verifying weaponization. That includes the missiles, the type of missiles they stocked there, and the triggers for the bomb.”
Witkoff stresses the importance of this verification and reflects President Trump’s sentiment, and if consultations are not positive, they will need to find an “alternative” solution.
“We have to do very strict verifications. There weren’t many ways to verify a few years before administration, the past few years ago,” he said.
“It has to change. And if it changes, we have a basis for positive consultations. And if it doesn’t change, we have to seek alternatives that aren’t good for everyone.”
There is still uncertainty about where this weekend’s talks will be held as authorities first suggested that Rome would hold negotiations, but it will only announce that Iran will return to Oman early Tuesday.
The importance of these consultations is immeasurable as both countries are approaching almost 50 years of hostility.
President Trump has consistently threatened airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if they fail to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials are increasingly signaling the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons, citing an increase in stockpiling of uranium enriched at weapons-grade levels.
