Wow! Who could have seen this meeting coming?
While most media outlets – and for that matter, most of the world – has been focused on meetings related to the trade war, a very different type of meeting unfolded over the weekend.
One that many analysts likely did not see coming.
According to a formal statement from the White House, a Trump official just met with none other than the Foreign Minister of Iran, in the relatively neutral setting of Oman.
“U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steven Witkoff, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima, conducted talks today in Muscat with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Abbas Araghchi, which were hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi,” the White House detailed.
That was quite the unexpected development, as well as one that was certainly not highly advertised.
Likely in part due to the fact that the meeting could have very easily gone one way or the other – negatively or positively.
Fortunately, for the various stakeholders involved, the meeting appeared to have gone positively.
“The discussions were very positive and constructive, and the United States deeply thanks the Sultanate of Oman for its support of this initiative. Special Envoy Witkoff underscored to Dr. Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations’ differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible,” the White House added.
Now that is great news.
Indeed, more than one individual has been understandably nervous about Iran’s increasingly aggressive actions in the Middle East.
Some of the more notorious recent actions include the backing of Houthi rebels that have negatively affected trade routes along the Red Sea.
Which is exactly why any talks between the United States and Iran would surely not be simple, but they would definitely be a start.
Which the White House clearly acknowledges in its statement.
“These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. The sides agreed to meet again next Saturday,” the White House concluded.
Given that another meeting is on deck, it’s pretty clear that this type of victory is the one that multiple Americans in favor of peace have been waiting for.
As detailed by Fox News, Rebecca Grant, a senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, notes that the Trump administration currently does have serious leverage with Iran, given its own recent “deployment” in the Middle East.
“All the options are not only on the table. They’re all deployed to the Middle East. Somewhere between four and six B-2 stealth bombers [are] forward in Diego Garcia, [along with] two aircraft carriers. That has really gotten Iran’s attention,” Grant remarked.
And, luckily, Iran was smart enough to engage in face-to-face talks, rather than engage in its typical recalcitrance.
Especially when accounting for the current options on the table.
“Iran either has to talk or get their nuclear facilities bombed,” Grant remarked briskly.
Well, that’s one way to get Iran to the table.
And, with any luck, they will just keep on coming back … optimally resulting in a lasting denuclearization agreement.
Author: Ofelia Thornton
