US, Iran talks ‘Productive’, military option remains

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on April 13th that Washington remains committed to a diplomatic resolution to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but also warned that if diplomatic efforts fail, the military stands ready to take significant action.  

According to The National, the indirect talks between US and Iranian diplomats, which began on April 12th in Oman, are part of an ongoing effort to address the growing Western concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.  

Hegseth described the first round of talks as “productive,” while underscoring that US envoy Steve Witkoff’s efforts were a positive step, though he made it clear that if these discussions do not yield results, there are other options—including military intervention—to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb. 

“These were productive talks yesterday. I don’t want to get ahead of our skis – Steve Witkoff does a fantastic job – but it was a good step, and they’re going to go at it again on Saturday,” Mr Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News. 

“But he’s also dead serious that if we can’t figure this out at the negotiating table, then there are other options – to include my department – to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear bomb.” 

Despite the preference for a peaceful resolution, Hegseth reiterated President Trump’s readiness to take military action if necessary, explaining that the US military has demonstrated the capability to carry out significant and far-reaching operations.  

“We’ve shown a capability to go far, to go deep, and to go big,” Hegseth stated.  

“Again, we don’t want to do that, but if we have to, we will, to prevent the nuclear bomb in Iran’s hands.”  

President Trump also made it clear on April 9th that military action remains a viable option, particularly in conjunction with Israel, should the negotiations in Oman fail.  

He has been outspoken about his willingness to pursue military action, stating that “if they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” signaling the seriousness of the situation. 

The diplomatic talks commenced in Oman on April 12th, with the US delegation led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian team headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.  

This round of discussions is focused on finding a resolution to the nuclear issue, particularly in light of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.  

However, following the US’s withdrawal from the deal in 2018 under President Trump’s administration, Iran has gradually reduced its adherence to the terms of the agreement.  

While Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are purely for peaceful purposes, analysts believe that the country could be mere weeks away from producing a deliverable nuclear weapon.  

Tehran continues to deny these claims, insisting that it is not seeking to build nuclear arms, but the growing tensions with the US and the international community raise concerns over its potential nuclear capabilities.  

The National. Maghrebi. Levantis