After years of hostility, the recent resumption of talks between the United States and Iran marks a fragile but noteworthy moment in international diplomacy. Led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the two delegations met in Oman for what both sides described as a “constructive” exchange. While the meeting was mostly mediated and brief, the tone and outcome offer cautious optimism in an otherwise tense geopolitical landscape. What makes this moment unique is not just the highlevel engagement ~ the first of its kind since 2018 ~ but the departure from the confrontational rhetoric that has often dominated US-Iran relations.

The fact that both sides agreed to a second round of talks suggests a mutual recognition that dialogue, even if limited and indirect, is preferable to escalation. For once, the language of diplomacy prevailed over threats, and that itself is progress.........

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