Iranian press cautiously optimistic on nuclear talks, touts Tehran’s leverage
Conservative Kayhan newspaper says ‘Iran’s military might has forced America to negotiate’; regime still refusing to dismantle nuclear program as part of any deal
The Iranian media is portraying Tehran as holding a strong position after Saturday’s nuclear talks with the United States, ahead of further discussions in Oman in the coming days.
The headline of the Kayhan newspaper, whose editorial line has long opposed any compromise or negotiations with the US, read: “Iran’s military might has forced America to negotiate.”
The conservative daily has expressed complacency in recent days as the two countries — foes since shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution — reported progress during talks in Rome.
“Americans need us and the credibility that negotiations with Iran give them,” wrote the newspaper, while still describing US President Donald Trump as an “untrustworthy psychopath” and “unpredictable.”
Iran maintains that there has been no direct interaction with the United States during the two rounds of talks on April 12 and 19, insisting that all communication has gone through Omani intermediaries. However, US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met briefly with Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shortly after the first round of talks on April 12.
The talks have raised hopes in Iran of an improvement in the country’s dire economic situation.
State news agency IRNA said the Iranian stock market saw a “historic” boost on Saturday, while the rial strengthened on the black market, trading at around 830,000 to the dollar on Sunday, an improvement from over one million to the dollar before the talks began.
Technical discussions between Iranian and US experts are scheduled for Wednesday in Oman, before further talks on Saturday between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Reformist daily Ham Mihan argued that direct negotiations are “neither useful and possible, nor logical” during the technical phase.
Another reformist daily, Shargh, cautiously welcomed the progress of the talks, which it said allowed for “the gradual discovery of what the other side wants.”
“Although in the course of negotiations, the parties have positions and red lines, new opportunities always emerge,” the newspaper noted.
Iran considers any discussion involving the complete dismantling of its nuclear program, its missiles, or its support for armed groups hostile to Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, to be a “red line.”
The US has long accused Iran of working toward acquiring an atomic bomb, something Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear program is only intended for peaceful purposes.
However, Iran has enriched uranium to levels that are only necessary for military purposes. It has for decades called for the destruction of the State of Israel and sponsors Hezbollah and Hamas, terror groups that avowedly seek to destroy Israel.
The Times of Israel Community.