Iran seeks fair and honorable agreement with United States

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran’s goal is to achieve a “fair and honorable agreement” in indirect negotiations with the United States, currently taking place in Muscat, Oman, reports Reuters.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, Araghchi emphasized that Iran is entering the talks “from a position of equality,” according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

“Our intention is to achieve a fair agreement, based on mutual respect,” he said, adding that a “preliminary understanding” is possible if Washington adopts a similar approach.

“If the other side has come to the table with the same mindset, then there is room for a constructive negotiating path.”

Araghchi praised Oman’s “responsible stance” on regional issues and described Muscat’s role as host of the negotiations as “a clear sign of its positive diplomatic approach.”

Omani Foreign Minister Busaidi welcomed Araghchi and called relations between the two countries “exceptional,” expressing appreciation for Iran’s decision to hold talks in Oman.

According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Araghchi began consultations with Busaidi ahead of Saturday evening’s indirect negotiations with the American delegation. Busaidi is also expected to meet US lead negotiator Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East.

The negotiations follow Trump’s invitation in March to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for direct talks. At a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Trump announced that “direct negotiations” would begin Saturday.

The US and its allies accuse Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons — a claim Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful and focused on energy production.

Israeli media reported that Trump’s announcement of direct talks surprised Israeli officials, who have repeatedly advocated for military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

 

China and Russia reject US maximum pressure

Lately, China, Iran, and Russia held talks in Beijing, urging diplomacy over “pressure and threats” and calling for an end to “illegal unilateral sanctions” on Iran.

The meeting, led by deputy foreign ministers from the three nations, comes as China positions itself as a key player in resolving Iran’s nuclear issue.

This follows US President Donald Trump’s statement that Iran faces two options: a deal or military action.

China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu emphasized eliminating the root causes of the crisis, rejecting sanctions and force.

The joint statement called for avoiding escalation and fostering a diplomatic resolution. The urgency grows as the UN nuclear watchdog warns of Iran’s expanding uranium stockpile, though Iran maintains its program is peaceful.

Beijing opposes US sanctions and the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which began after the US withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The deal’s looming October deadline could trigger a “snapback” of UN sanctions unless a new agreement is reached.

China, alongside European powers, hopes to salvage the JCPOA or craft a new deal. Trump remains open to negotiation but maintains pressure through sanctions, while Iran’s leadership rejects talks under US duress.

China’s diplomatic push aligns with its goal of emerging as a global leader, especially as Trump’s "America First" policy shifts US foreign strategies. The Beijing meeting also showcased non-Western approaches to global issues.

For Iran, the talks offered a chance to reinforce ties with China and Russia — key allies amid Western sanctions. Tehran and Moscow have deepened cooperation, particularly through military support in Ukraine, while China remains a vital economic and diplomatic partner.

China seeks to balance its relationships across the Middle East, including ties with Saudi Arabia, and mitigate potential risks to its businesses from US pressure on Iran.

Analysts note that China’s limited experience in Middle Eastern diplomacy and Iran’s independent stance could restrict its role as a deal broker. Despite this, China’s efforts signal growing influence and alignment with Russia and Iran against Western pressure.

US imposes sanctions on Iranian oil minister

According to Reuters, the United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and some Hong Kong-flagged vessels that are part of a shadow fleet that helps disguise Iranian oil shipments.

President Donald Trump re-imposed a maximum pressure policy on Iran in February that includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero in order to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and funding militant groups.

It was alleged that Paknejad oversees the export of tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil and has allocated billions of dollars’ worth of oil to Iran’s armed forces for export.

“The Iranian regime continues to use the proceeds from the nation’s vast oil resources to advance its narrow, alarming self-interests at the expense of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

“Treasury will fight and disrupt any attempts by the regime to fund its destabilizing activities and further its dangerous agenda.”

Treasury also designated owners or operators of vessels that have delivered Iranian oil to China or lifted it from storage there, it said. Those were in multiple jurisdictions, including India and China, it said.

Iran's military relies on a vast shadow fleet of ships to disguise shipments of oil worth billions of dollars to China.

Thursday's designated vessels include the Hong Kong-flagged Peace Hill and its owner Hong Kong Heshun Transportation Trading Limited, the Iran-flagged Polaris 1, the Seychelles-registered Fallon Shipping Company Ltd, and the Liberia-registered Itaugua Services Inc.

It also designated the Panama-flagged Corona Fun, which it said has manipulated automatic identification systems to disguise efforts to ship Iranian oil, and the San Marino-flagged Seasky, for transporting fuel oil on behalf of Iran's national oil company to China.

The sanctions block US assets of the designated entities and prohibit Americans from engaging in any transactions with them.

The US Department of State is designating three entities and three vessels as blocked property, it said.