Teheran says it will give nuclear talks a real chance

DUBAI — Iran said on Friday it was giving nuclear talks with the United States on Saturday "a genuine chance" after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb if discussions failed.

Trump made a surprise announcement on Monday that Washington and Teheran would begin talks in Oman, which has mediated between the West and Teheran before.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Friday that the US should value Teheran's decision to engage in talks despite Washington's "prevailing confrontational hoopla".

"We intend to assess the other side's intent and resolve this Saturday," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei posted on X, referring to talks scheduled to be held in Oman.

"In earnest and with candid vigilance, we are giving diplomacy a genuine chance."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States will hold direct talks with Iran.

"We hope that'll lead to peace. We've been very clear that Iran is never going to have a nuclear weapon, and I think that's what led to this meeting," Rubio said during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Trump.

The announcement caused some confusion because Iran had said the talks would be indirect with the Omanis acting as mediators.

Iran has stressed its program is purely for legitimate, peaceful purposes.

Washington's decision not to coordinate with European nations about its negotiations with Iran on Saturday will reduce its leverage and make US and Israeli military action against Teheran ultimately more likely, analysts and diplomats said.

The United States did not tell European countries about the nuclear talks in Oman before Trump announced it on Tuesday, even though they (Europe) hold a key card on the possible reimposition of UN sanctions on Teheran, European diplomats said.

"The United States is going to need a coordinated diplomatic strategy with its European allies going into these negotiations with Iran," said Blaise Misztal, vice-president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

Agencies Via Xinhua