U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to meet Saturday in Oman in what could mark a significant diplomatic opening for former President Donald Trump — one that evaded his predecessor, Joe Biden, Trita Parsi writes in a recent Time article.

After weeks of private correspondence and public threats, Trump ordered a major military buildup in the region, while Tehran warned it would strike U.S. bases if provoked. U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz echoed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program — an approach viewed as a diplomatic non-starter.

Still, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, to explore a potential agreement. Whether direct or indirect, the talks signal a turn toward diplomacy.

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US, Iran Face Pressure to Make a Deal

Several factors suggest Trump’s effort may succeed. Both nations face pressure to reach a deal. Trump, despite his aggressive rhetoric, has campaigned on ending U.S. military entanglements. Conservative voices like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon have also voiced opposition to war with Iran.

Iran, facing the threat of renewed U.N. sanctions and a battered economy, has reason to engage. President Massoud Pezeshkian ran on a platform of restoring economic ties through diplomacy.

Trump also appears less beholden to Israeli preferences. Despite Netanyahu’s calls for a Libya-style dismantling of Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump has backed a verification-based approach — akin to the 2015 accord under then-President Barack Obama.

Iranian officials believe Trump is serious about lifting sanctions. “To Biden,” one official said, “offering us sanctions relief was as painful as peeling off his own skin.”

Now, Tehran is openly courting U.S. business, hinting at a deeper shift in strategy.

Read more at Time.com