Iranian FM Visits Gulf Countries amid Anticipation of ‘Nuclear Understanding’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is embarking on a Gulf tour encompassing Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, amidst anticipation regarding an Iranian-US “understanding.” This understanding may potentially facilitate the release of a portion of Tehran’s frozen assets through financial channels passing through Doha and Muscat.

Earlier this week, the Iranian top diplomat had received his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, engaging in discussions about enhancing bilateral relations and areas of cooperation.

Amir-Abdollahian’s Gulf tour was confirmed by a concise statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The confirmation came after Telegram channels affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards had reported that the minister was carrying a response to a US message conveyed by Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Yusuf to Tehran three weeks ago.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi affirmed in a press statement last Wednesday that Washington and Tehran are nearing the final stages of reaching an agreement to release detained US citizens.

This comes after the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the proximity of a deal through Omani mediation.

The US and Iran are in talks to reach an “understanding” that includes exchanging detained Americans for unfreezing Iranian assets.

There is a possibility that this understanding may also involve placing restrictions on Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which is getting closer to nuclear weapon levels.

According to a Western official speaking to Reuters, both sides are working on a “de-escalation understanding.”

There have been multiple rounds of indirect talks in Oman between the US National Security Council official, Brett McGurk, and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani.

Additionally, after months of Iran’s refusal for direct communication, the US Special Envoy for Iran met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Negotiations took place between Iran and Qatar last week regarding the enhancement of banking cooperation. This comes after the US released $2.7 billion of frozen Iranian assets in Iraq.

Regarding the possibility of direct negotiations with the US, Shahriar Heydari, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stated that such talks are predicated on whether Washington demonstrates goodwill.

“If the US shows goodwill and regrets its past actions and behaviors towards the government and the people, in that case, we can negotiate directly with the US,” Heydari told an Iranian news website.

Last week, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that it is possible to reach agreements on Iran's nuclear activities without compromising the country’s infrastructure. He urged officials involved in the nuclear program to “not succumb to excessive and misguided demands” from the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasizing cooperation with the UN agency through “safeguarded” agreements.

An explosive-laden car rammed into a Pakistani military convoy on Saturday in a town near the Afghan border, killing at least 13 soldiers, sources said.

Four Pakistani intelligence officials and a senior local administrator told Reuters that the convoy was attacked in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district.

Around 10 other soldiers were wounded, some critically, and they were being airlifted to a military hospital, the sources said.

"It was huge, a big bang," said the local administrator, adding that residents of the town could see a large amount of smoke billowing from the scene from a great distance.

One resident said that the explosion rattled the windowpanes of nearby houses, and caused some roofs to collapse.

No one has so far claimed responsibility.

The Pakistani military did not respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

The lawless district which sits next to Afghanistan has long served as a safe haven for different militant groups, who operate on both sides of the border.

Islamabad says the militants run training camps in Afghanistan to launch attacks inside Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies, saying the militancy is Pakistan's domestic issue.

Pakistani Taliban also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of several militant groups, has long been waging a war against Pakistan in a bid to overthrow the government.

The Pakistani military, which has launched several offensives against the militants, has mostly been their prime target.

Iranian FM Visits Gulf Countries amid Anticipation of ‘Nuclear Understanding’