Iran Nuclear Negotiations Meant to Test U.S. Seriousness, Says Tehran

DUBAI—Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that nuclear negotiations with the United States gave Tehran a chance to assess Washington’s level of seriousness and demonstrated enough agreement to keep moving forward diplomatically.

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s deployment of a naval flotilla in the region, which sparked worries of fresh military action, U.S. and Iranian diplomats met through Omani mediators in Oman last week in an attempt to rekindle diplomatic relations.

“The conference in Muscat didn’t last very long. According to Baghaei, it was done to determine how serious the opposing side was and how to proceed. Following the discussions, we believed there was agreement and understanding to carry on with the diplomatic procedure.

Ali Larijani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, was scheduled to visit Oman on Tuesday to follow up on regional consultations, the spokeswoman said, adding that Larijani would next visit Qatar.

Baghaei stated that the United States “must act independently of foreign pressures, especially Israeli pressures that ignore the interests of the region and even the U.S.” in reference to the Israeli prime minister’s anticipated travel to Washington on Wednesday.