Envoys from Iran and the US met in Oman to commence indirect discussions about Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. This marked the first high-level meeting between the two nations since 2018.

The Details: In a direct conversation that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described as "a brief initial conversation, greetings and polite exchanges," the two sides agreed to continue talks next week. Iran's state-run broadcaster announced that the negotiations, which lasted over two hours, involved four rounds of messages exchanged via Oman's foreign minister, who mediated the talks. Expectations for this first round were low, with the discussions being described as "indirect" and primarily about "trust building."

For Context: The stakes of these negotiations are high as the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached. Iran has warned it could pursue a nuclear weapon with its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful and that it will never seek to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

How The Media Covered It: Coverage of the preliminary talks varied across the media spectrum. The BBC (Center bias) emphasized the diplomatic nature of the talks, noting that both sides expressed a desire for a "fair agreement". The Associated Press (Left bias) reported on the specifics of the meeting, highlighting that the talks were "indirect" and that they took place in "a friendly atmosphere conducive to bridging viewpoints." The New York Post (Lean Right bias), on the other hand, focused on the potential for military conflict. The outlet underscored Trump's threats of airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program and Iran's warnings that they could pursue a nuclear weapon.

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