Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said Iran is entering nuclear talks with the United States “with open eyes” and that Tehran will not compromise on its rights, as both sides prepare to resume negotiations in Muscat, Oman.  

Araghchi made the remarks after arriving in the Omani capital ahead of the talks, which are aimed at finding a fair solution to differences over Iran’s nuclear programme. He stressed that Tehran’s approach to diplomacy is shaped by past experience and that Iran is committed to defending its rights.  

“Iran enters diplomacy with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year,” Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X upon his arrival in Oman. “We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights.”  

Araghchi explained that for any agreement to be lasting, both sides must respect equal standing, mutual respect, and mutual interest, and said these are not just words but essential foundations for a durable deal. “Commitments need to be honoured. Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual interest are not rhetoric — they are a must and the pillars of a durable agreement,” he wrote.  

The Iranian foreign minister is leading Tehran’s delegation in the negotiations alongside Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Hamid Qanbari, as well as Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, according to the report. The United States delegation, for its part, is headed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.  

Earlier, Baghaei also posted on X that the talks would be conducted “with strength and with the objective of achieving a fair, mutually satisfactory and dignified agreement.”  

The talks are taking place amid increased U.S. military presence in West Asia and ongoing regional tensions, which have heightened concerns over the stability of the region.  

This diplomatic engagement follows five rounds of indirect discussions last year that were halted after military actions in June 2025 involving Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which disrupted planned negotiations in Muscat.  

Iran’s government has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful and for civilian purposes, while the U.S. has expressed concerns over Tehran’s nuclear activities and pressure on Iran to agree to limits. The renewed talks aim to address these long-standing differences through diplomacy.  

In his message, Araghchi emphasised that Iran’s firm stance on its rights does not mean it is unwilling to negotiate. Rather, he indicated that Iran seeks a fair and equitable diplomatic solution that acknowledges the rights and interests of both sides.  

The outcome of these high-stakes talks remains uncertain, but the emphasis by Iran’s foreign minister on entering the negotiations with clarity and resolve signals Tehran’s determination to protect its national interests while engaging in diplomatic efforts.