Iran’s Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), defended Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent remarks supporting indirect negotiations with the United States.
"The essence of the Leader’s message is that everyone must fulfill their duty," Fars wrote on Saturday, warning against "simplistic and distorted" interpretations of Khamenei’s approach.
"We must not accuse the Islamic system of deviating from its ideals just because we do not understand why the political road has twisted," it added.
Khamenei had in February called talks with Washington "unwise, undignified, and dishonorable." Earlier this month, he said he was satisfied with the progress of negotiations mediated by Oman, telling Iranian media: "The first steps have been taken well, and the negotiations may bear fruit."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi in Muscat on Saturday ahead of the third round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, Iranian state media reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Oman on Saturday ahead of expected indirect talks with Iran, the Associated Press reported.
Witkoff was in Moscow on Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before traveling to Muscat, where talks were expected to begin within hours, a source familiar with Witkoff’s travels told AP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.
US President Donald Trump has realized he must distance himself from the rhetoric of coercion and domination, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday.
Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks in a commentary published in the government’s official daily Iran.
"Trump, despite his threats, has not resorted to military action against Iran," Shamkhani wrote. He said Trump was seeking to project strength at home after "failures" in Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and on economic issues.
"Trump has failed to secure victories in key dossiers and is now trying to preserve his administration’s self-assurance," he added.
Shamkhani said the talks underway in Muscat could mark a political turning point for Trump, while emphasizing Iran’s policy of combining resistance with active diplomacy.
"Iran has shown that just as it resists in the field, it also plays an active role in diplomacy," he said.