News Desk
WASHINGTON: The possibility of a US-Iran agreement had remained uncertain despite President Donald Trump’s claim that a deal was effectively in place, with senior Gulf officials saying the outcome of Friday’s talks was still evenly balanced.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the Iranian delegation involved in the talks did not include representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They said the IRGC’s approval would be necessary before any interim understanding could receive final approval from Tehran.
President Trump had earlier said that US officials were engaged in productive discussions with Iranian counterparts. He had also warned that Washington would take strong action if Iran withdrew from a possible agreement. The US president further suggested that an arrangement related to the Strait of Hormuz could be reached soon.
Iran, however, continued to deny that it was holding direct negotiations with the United States. Tehran maintained that its discussions with Oman were limited to issues related to maritime navigation and shipping arrangements in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The uncertainty surrounding the talks reflected the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran despite recent diplomatic contacts. The Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route, has remained a key focus of international attention due to concerns over regional security and freedom of navigation.
Analysts said the ongoing engagement between Iran and Oman could potentially create space for wider discussions between Tehran and Washington. They added that any broader agreement would likely require approval from Iran’s political and security institutions as well as careful negotiations on issues dividing the two countries.
