Iran Denies Direct US Talks Over Sanctions Relief

Iran's foreign ministry has dismissed reports suggesting direct negotiations with the United States over sanctions relief have been given the green light by the Supreme Leader.

Amwaj Media, based in the UK, claimed that Iran was planning to engage in direct talks with the US in Oman concerning its nuclear program, given the go-ahead by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. 

However, the foreign ministry called the claims "media hype and political theatrics, which are usually employed for political manipulation".

The UK report also claimed that Ali Baqeri-Kani, the chief nuclear negotiator, is prepared to meet with Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, in Oman within the coming weeks.

It was suggested that the subsequent step would involve a meeting between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, France, China, Russia, and the US) along with Germany.

There is speculation that if such a gathering occurs, it could occur after 'Transition Day' under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), specifically on October 18.

Vienna talks, that began in April 2021 as an attempt to salvage the nuclear agreement, encountered obstacles and stalled last August.

US officials have consistently asserted that their attention has shifted away from the JCPOA negotiations. Instead, Washington's primary focus is on the Islamic Republic's alleged oppression of its citizens and its military assistance to Russia during the Ukraine invasion.