To the capital of Oman, a small Arab nation in the Gulf of Persia, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf,

and I welcome Colonel Jeff McCausen, CBS News, and also Diamond Six Leadership and Strategy,

and a visiting professor at Dickinson College, to comment on the meetings in Oman,

aiming at resolving the suspect nuclear weapons program of Iran.

This is very difficult to follow because there are two kinds of meetings going on.

The important one is the meeting between Mr. Wiccoff, representing the president,

and the foreign minister of Iran. And yet, Jeff, a very good evening to you. There is no transparency

here. So all I can do is restate what I understand to be the Iranian position. They're asking for

a return to the JCPOA of 2015, which Mr. Trump's

first administration left. The Israeli position, as evidenced by remarks and also reports, is that

Iran has a suspect nuclear weapons program that must be ended, dismantled, and inspected.

Or else, in between is the United States.

Do we know where in between is the United States on this negotiation?

Good evening to you, Jeff.

Good evening, John.

Well, not exactly, as you said, these negotiations, I believe, have been somewhat opaque.

Now, both sides coming out of their meeting on Saturday in Rome, did say that they were

very optimistic, that things had gone well, and they agreed to, quote, unquote, rapid-paced

negotiations, but unclear what that means, besides perhaps providing some degree to optimism

to their respective domestic constituencies in the United States and Iran.

The Iranian red line seemed very clear.

They are opposed to the total dismantment of their nuclear facilities, their centrifuges, and an absolute end to enrichment.

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