Iran Negotiations

The U.S. and Iran concluded on Saturday the third round of nuclear talks and agreed to meet again on May 3, said Omani foreign minister Badr Al-Busaidi, who is mediating between the parties.

Why it matters: The talks in Muscat on Saturday were the first time the parties dived into the technical details of a possible nuclear deal, especially the limitations the U.S. wants to impose on Iran's nuclear program and the sanctions Iran wants the U.S. to lift.

The United States has quietly resumed indirect talks with Iran in an effort to constrain Tehran’s nuclear program, multiple sources told CNN.

The talks resumed late last year, months after an effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal collapsed. The Trump administration withdrew from the landmark agreement in 2018 and Iran has increasingly grown its nuclear program in violation of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The United States is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear programme, release some detained U.S. citizens and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad, Iranian and Western officials said.

These steps would be cast as an "understanding" rather than an agreement requiring review by the U.S. Congress, where many oppose giving Iran benefits because of its military aid to Russia, its domestic repression and its support for proxies that have attacked U.S. interests in the region.

The White House has restarted talks with Iran in an effort to win the release of US detainees and limit Tehran’s nuclear program.

Biden administration officials have traveled to Oman for indirect discussions with their Iranian counterparts at least three times since December, when senior US and Iranian diplomats made contact in New York, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The nuclear deal that's been reached with Iran means the Middle Eastern nation will "never get a nuclear weapon," Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. nuclear negotiator in the talks with that country said Monday, but admitted that there are still many concerns with Iran that remain.

"What this means is we have a channel for dialogue and sustained way to have communications with Iran," the former undersecretary of state for political affairs told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Sunday morning blasted the Obama administration’s handling of Iran in recent days, charging that the president has allowed the U.S. to be humiliated on the world stage.

Speaking on “Fox News Sunday” less than 24 hours after the U.S. lifted economic sanctions against Iran, the Texas senator said the nuclear deal with Iran sets a “dangerous precedent” and highlights how President Obama all too often is willing to negotiate with America’s enemies.

Just a few months ago, House Republicans were talking about suing the Obama administration over its nuclear deal with Iran, but now, they are proposing legislative efforts in hopes of preventing sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation from being lifted.

There was never a definite plan to file a lawsuit while former House Speaker John Boehner was in office, reports The Hill. But once he left office, tal

Republicans on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail expressed optimism and happiness Saturday about Iran releasing five U.S. citizens but continued raising concerns about the nuclear deal with Tehran that is expected completed this weekend and connected to the accord.
“Hopeful this long ordeal for our four Americans held hostage in Iran finally appears to be over,” tweeted GOP presidential candidate and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. “Praise God! Surely bad parts of Obama's latest deal, but prayers of thanksgiving that Pastor Saeed is coming home.”

The United States and European nations lifted oil and financial sanctions on Iran and released roughly $100 billion of its assets after international inspectors concluded that the country had followed through on promises to dismantle large sections of its nuclear program.

This came at the end of a day of high drama that played out in a diplomatic dance across Europe and the Middle East, just hours after Tehran and Washington swapped long-held prisoners.

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International sanctions on Iran have been lifted after a watchdog confirmed it had complied with a deal designed to prevent it developing nuclear weapons.
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the deal would contribute to improved regional and international peace and security.
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