U.S. plans nuclear talks with Iran in Oslo next week
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Satellite imagery shows damage to Iran's Isfahan nuclear site after U.S. air strikes. Photo via Maxar Technologies
White House envoy Steve Witkoff is planning to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oslo next week to restart nuclear talks, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
Why it matters: The sources said a final date hasn't been set, and neither country has publicly confirmed the meeting. But if it happens, it would mark the first direct talks since President Trump ordered an unprecedented military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities last month.
- "We have no travel announcements at this time," a White House official told Axios.
- The Iranian mission to the UN declined to comment.
Behind the scenes: Witkoff and Araghchi have been in direct contact during and since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which ended in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, according to the sources.
- Omani and Qatari officials have also been involved in mediating between the two sides.
- In the immediate aftermath of the war, the Iranians were reluctant to engage with the U.S., but that position has gradually softened.
- Israel's Channel 12 was the first to report on the planned meeting.
What to watch: A key issue in any future talks will be Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which includes 400 kilograms enriched to 60%.
- Israeli and U.S. officials say the material is currently "sealed off from the outside world" inside the three nuclear sites attacked during the joint strikes: the enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow, and the underground tunnels at the Isfahan site.
- Iran is unable to access the stockpile for now due to damage from the strikes, but it could be recovered once the rubble is cleared.
State of play: Iran announced earlier this week that it has begun implementing a new law passed by parliament that suspends all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- Araghchi wrote on X Thursday that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its Safeguards Agreement.
- "In accordance with the new legislation by [parliament], sparked by the unlawful attacks against our nuclear facilities by Israel and the U.S., our cooperation with the IAEA will be channeled through Iran's Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety and security reasons," he wrote.
