Iran announced today, Friday, that it will take the upcoming talks with the United States, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, in Oman, seriously, confirming its readiness to give diplomacy a "real opportunity," amidst escalating rhetoric between the two sides and the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump of a possible military strike on Tehran if negotiations fail.

A statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Tehran expects Washington to "appreciate its decision to engage in dialogue," despite what it described as "ongoing hostile propaganda." The ministry's spokesperson, Ismail Baqaei, wrote on the platform "X": "We intend to assess the other party's intentions and seriousness with clarity and full caution."

These statements come amid rising regional tensions, following U.S. airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, in response to their targeting of shipping routes in the Red Sea, in a move regarded by observers as an indirect message to Tehran.

For his part, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated in remarks from Abu Dhabi that his country is ready to intensify economic pressures on Iran, including halting its oil exports, as part of efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions. He added that "the concern of U.S. allies in the Gulf over Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon remains, and the military option is still on the table."

Diplomacy in Focus

In contrast, the European Union emphasized the necessity of adhering to diplomatic solutions, confirming that any development pushing towards a political settlement is a step in the right direction. Germany, one of the signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal, called for using the talks as an opportunity to reach a "diplomatic solution" that ends the tension surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said: "We are watching Iran's continued escalation and expansion of uranium enrichment activities with deep concern, and we consider the existence of a dialogue channel a positive development."

The Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed stringent sanctions on Iran, which gradually responded by rolling back its core commitments.

Escalation Before Dialogue

On the eve of the talks, the rhetoric between the two sides intensified, with the advisor to the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Shamkhani, warning that Tehran might expel International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and cease cooperation with it if external threats continued.

Shamkhani added that among the options being considered is also "transferring enriched nuclear materials to undisclosed sites for security reasons."

The U.S. State Department responded to these statements by warning that such a move would be "a serious escalation and a miscalculation," affirming that any threat to expel inspectors contradicts Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is peaceful.

In new remarks, Trump hinted that military action against Iran is "absolutely on the table" if the talks do not yield results, noting that Israel could play a central role if military intervention occurs.

Crucial Talks

The talks are scheduled for Saturday in Oman, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Wietkov participating, amidst international hopes of avoiding further escalation and returning to a diplomatic path that ensures security and stability in the region.