Payam Javan: Senior U.S. negotiators will meet Iranian counterparts in Oman on April 12 for direct talks on Iran’s nuclear program, following President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure on Tehran. Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 JCPOA during his first term, demands a new agreement to curb Iran’s uranium enrichment and prevent nuclear weapon development. Recent U.S. military deployments, including the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and B-2 bombers, signal a readiness to escalate if talks fail, with Trump warning of severe consequences, including potential bombing, if Iran does not comply.

Iran, having scaled back JCPOA commitments after U.S. sanctions were reimposed, approaches the talks cautiously but earnestly, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. The negotiations occur against a backdrop of regional tensions, with the Trump administration linking Iran to Houthi attacks in Yemen and working to revive a Gaza cease-fire. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that all options remain on the table, underscoring the high stakes as both sides seek to navigate the fraught diplomatic landscape.