Iran’s nuclear negotiators have been granted permission to enter direct talks with the United States, multiple informed sources in Tehran have told Amwaj.media. The apparent U-turn by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could be a watershed moment for the contention over the Iranian nuclear program.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior Iranian sources said top nuclear negotiator Ali Baqeri-Kani is ready to meet with White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk in Oman as early as the coming weeks. If the sought session materializes, the sources charged, the next step would be for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, France, China, Russia, and the US) and Germany to convene a meeting with Iran. One source speculated that if such a gathering takes place, it could happen after ‘Transition Day’ under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), namely Oct. 18. However, other sources painted a far less ambitious picture, highlighting the need for a sober understanding of the...