WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated after indirect negotiations with Iran in Oman that Tehran is eager for an agreement, and discussions will continue next week. He emphasized that Iran will not have access to nuclear weapons and that there is ample time to reach a deal. At the same time, the White House announced that Trump extended the “national emergency” status against Iran on Friday and established a new mechanism to impose tariffs on countries that conduct economic transactions with Iran. This executive order allows the United States to levy additional tariffs on imports from countries that directly or indirectly purchase goods or services from Iran, thereby increasing economic pressure on Iran and its associated networks. Sayed Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, indicated that talks with U.S. representatives were held indirectly, with Iran’s messages conveyed through the Omani foreign minister. Trump assessed the negotiations as positive but stressed that no agreement has yet been reached. For the first time, Brigadier General Kenneth McKenzie, head of CENTCOM, participated in the talks, announcing that U.S. ships and aircraft carriers are stationed in the Arabian Sea. Trump has repeatedly warned that if negotiations fail, military options remain on the table.
