US says Trump prefers diplomacy with Iran but warns he has military options

There are to be high-stakes negotiations between Iran and the United States scheduled to begin on Friday in Oman about Iran's nuclear programme. But a disagreement over the agenda could make progress difficult to obtain as the threat of war hangs over the region like a shadow.

Although both sides have indicated their willingness to revive the talks to resolve an ongoing nuclear standoff between Iran and Western countries, “we think it’s time for them to talk about their nuclear program, their missile capabilities, their support of violent organizations in their region, and their treatment of their own people," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.

Iran: Iran has said it wants Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to talk only about nuclear issues in Muscat.

Iran’s foreign minister appealed on Friday for “mutual respect” before negotiations with the US on the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme and other matters.

“Iran comes to the negotiating table with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year. Iran negotiates in good faith and stands firm on our rights,” Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

“Commitments need to be honored. Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual interest are not rhetoric – they are a must and the pillars of a durable agreement. “

Tehran said it will engage in the talks “with authority and with the aim of reaching a fair, mutually acceptable and dignified understanding on the nuclear issue”.

‘We hope that the American side will also participate in this process responsibly, realistically and seriously,’ Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Thursday.

The leadership of Tehran is understandably worried because they believe the US President, Mr. Trump, might fulfill his threats to attack Iran as the US Navy builds a presence near Iran.

The US naval build-up, which Trump labeled a massive “armada”, came after the bloody crackdown by the Iranian government on the nationwide protests that took place last month.

The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Thursday informed journalists that Trump was working on looking into whether an agreement could be made but also issued a stern warning.

“While these negotiations are taking place, I would remind the Iranian regime that the president has many options at his disposal, aside from diplomacy as the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the history of the world,” she added.

Trump has warned that “bad things“ would probably happen if a deal could not be reached, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of airstrikes.

Iran has warned it would respond harshly to any military strike and has cautioned neighbouring countries hosting US bases that they could be in the firing line if they were involved in an attack.

“It’s very difficult to see them conceding enough in talks tomorrow for the US credibly to be able to claim that it’s made a breakthrough. And this is where I think, military conflict is more likely than not,” Edmund Fitton-Brown, senior fellow at Washington-based think-tank FDD, said.