State Department policy planning director Michael Anton to be US lead in technical talks with Iran

US State Department policy planning director Michael Anton will be the lead representative for the Trump administration in technical nuclear talks with Iran that will begin on Saturday in Oman, his office confirms.

Anton was a spokesman for the White House National Security Council during Trump’s first term and served in the same office during former US president George W. Bush’s administration, but he doesn’t have a background in nuclear science.

US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff will also be present for the first round of technical talks in Oman on Saturday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says during a press briefing.

Before that meeting, the International Atomic Energy Agency will be sending a team to Iran to prepare for those talks. The IAEA will likely be tasked with monitoring Iran’s nuclear program if a deal is reached.