Will the latest round of US-Iran talks succeed?

Iran and the US are sitting down to talk again over Tehran's nuclear programme. What makes these talks different? Iran is on a much weaker footing than in the past. US President Donald Trump, in contrast, is riding high after the successful Venezuela operation. Mint looks at the implications of the Iran-US talks.

- BY ELIZABETH ROCHE

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is representing Iran in Oman. AFP

What does the US want from Iran, and is Tehran willing to accept all American demands?

The subject is Iran's nuclear programme-complete end to Tehran's uranium enrichment. The US also wants Iran to hand over 440kg of near weapons grade uranium, estimated to be enough to make 10 nuclear bombs. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is representing Iran in Oman with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy, Steve Witkoff representing the US. Washington also wants to widen the ambit of talks to include Iran's ballistic missile programme, its backing of armed groups in the region and the "treatment of their own people," US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said. Iran wants to restrict talks to the nuclear issue.

What are the chances of the US-Iran talks succeeding this time and what is the biggest sticking point?