As Iran and the US prepare to engage in talks about Tehran’s nuclear program, there are many gaps between the demands of each side, as evidenced by Iran’s insistence that sanctions be reduced even before a final agreement is reached.

In the past few days, the two sides have disputed the format of the talks in Oman, with the US insisting on direct talks and Iranian officials declaring that the negotiations would be indirect.

Tehran now demands that the US begin to lift sanctions while the talks are taking place rather than waiting to suspend them until Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program.

Initially, Iran demanded that sanctions be lifted before the beginning of talks but was compelled to compromise.

Additionally, the Trump Administration has discussed increasing sanctions against Iran ahead of the talks.

Trump Administration special envoy Steven Witkoff insists that talks occur directly and indicates a willingness to travel to Tehran for the negotiations.

However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Mohammad Pezeshkian insisted that talks with the US would only occur through Oman’s Foreign Ministry as a mediator.

Iran is attempting to limit the scope of the negotiations and has demanded that any discussion of missiles and funding terrorist organizations be kept off the table.

According to Israeli and American sources, the intention is to discuss missiles, particularly Iran’s long-range missiles supplied by its ally Russia.

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