Senior officials from the Biden administration engaged in indirect discussions last week with the Iranian regime in Oman to prevent “escalation” in the region, even as Iran’s proxies continue their assaults on Israel and global shipping.
This effort is among the few diplomatic encounters between the U.S. and Iran, reminiscent of the secret meetings in Oman between President Barack Obama’s envoys and the Iranian regime in 2013, which paved the way for the Iran nuclear agreement.
That deal was largely seen as advantageous to Iran, enabling it to potentially become a nuclear power after about a decade. President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, while President Joe Biden has unsuccessfully attempted to revive it.
The recent talks in Oman may be seen as an attempt to avoid a larger regional conflict or, reflecting the Obama/Biden history, as an assurance to Iran that neither Israel nor the U.S. will take significant actions against it despite its aggressive behavior.
The Times of Israel reported:
Senior U.S. officials held indirect talks with Iran this week in Oman concerning the potential for escalation in the Middle East following recent hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel.
According to a Friday Axios report, the Biden administration dispatched White House Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and acting special envoy on Iran Abram Paley for the first indirect talks between the two countries since January.
An Israeli government official confirmed the report to The Times of Israel, adding that McGurk was also in Saudi Arabia this week.
Last month, the Iranian regime launched approximately 300 missiles and drones at Israel, most of which were intercepted. The Biden administration advised Israel against retaliating, leading Israel to execute targeted attacks on Iranian air defenses near critical sites, showcasing its potential for more extensive actions in the future.
