DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – A significant diplomatic move occurred on Tuesday as a high-ranking Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, traveled to Oman. This visit is crucial as Oman is currently mediating discussions between Tehran and the United States over Iran's nuclear program, which is aimed at preventing potential American military action.
Ali Larijani, who previously served as the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and now holds the position of secretary to the Supreme National Security Council, is expected to deliver Iran's official response to the initial round of indirect negotiations held the previous week in Muscat. During this visit, Larijani is slated to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, the chief intermediary facilitating these critical conversations, as well as with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The state-run IRNA news agency has characterized the talks as "important," although details regarding Larijani's message remain undisclosed. He departed from Tehran for Muscat on Tuesday morning.
Iran and the U.S. recently resumed their nuclear talks in Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated during a diplomatic summit in Tehran that Iran intends to maintain its stance on uranium enrichment, which has been a contentious issue with U.S. President Donald Trump. The situation escalated notably in June when Trump ordered bombings on Iranian atomic sites amid a 12-day conflict involving Iran and Israel, which also interrupted prior rounds of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington this week, where discussions are anticipated to focus substantially on the Iranian threat. This trip underscores the growing international concern regarding Iran's nuclear aspirations and the regional security dynamics at play.
Additionally, the United States has strategically relocated the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, various naval vessels, and warplanes to the Middle East as a means to apply pressure on Iran to reach a diplomatic agreement. This military build-up also serves to ensure that the U.S. has the necessary capabilities for a potential strike against Iran should Trump decide to pursue that course of action. Recently, U.S. forces shot down a drone they claimed approached the Lincoln too closely, adding tension to the already fraught situation in the region, especially in the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway sees around one-fifth of all global oil trade pass through it and is located within both Iranian and Omani territorial waters.
In light of these developments, the U.S. Transportation Department's Maritime Administration issued a warning on Monday, advising American vessels to stay as far as possible from Iran's territorial sea while still maintaining navigational safety. Any vessel attempting to enter the Persian Gulf must pass through Iranian waters, which complicates navigation and raises security concerns for maritime activities.
