US, Iran quietly resume talks, make some progress

US, Iranian and Israeli government sources told CNN that Washington had quietly resumed indirect talks with Tehran months ago. Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was sent to Oman for indirect talks with Iranian government representatives.

Negotiations resumed late last year, months after efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) collapsed, according to the source. The administration of former US President Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew from the JCPOA, which stipulated that Tehran limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from Washington.

Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for Middle East and North Africa affairs, speaks at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq in 2017.

While there have been some signs of progress in the talks, a source said no formal agreement has been reached. Notable developments in the talks include the US allowing Iraq to repay a $2.76 billion energy debt to Iran, which the State Department said would be used to buy goods such as food and medicine. Washington is also working to get Tehran to release three US citizens detained in Iran – something the White House called a top priority.

Iran has confirmed the information. The Washington Post quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on June 12 as saying that the country had exchanged messages with the US through Oman "a few weeks ago".

"The basis of the sanctions relief negotiations is the JCPOA. We do not have a new framework. We do not endorse any negotiations for an interim agreement or new agreements to replace the JCPOA," Kanaani said in a briefing.

Russia has a shortage of mid-range cars due to embargo, China and Iran benefit

According to other Iranian officials, the country will also stop attacks on US contractors in Syria and Iraq, expand cooperation with international nuclear inspectors and limit ballistic missile sales to Russia.

In return, Iran wants the US to ease sanctions, refrain from seizing oil tankers as it did most recently in April, and not push for new sanctions resolutions targeting Iran at the United Nations (UN) or the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Speaking to The New York Times , Iran's mission to the UN declined to elaborate on the talks but said that "it is important to create a new atmosphere and move forward from the current situation."

However, the new talks have left some Israeli officials concerned that the US and the West will ease economic pressure on Iran and will not be able to stop Tehran's nuclear activities.

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