"Iran could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for all financial sanctions being lifted, its atomic chief said on Monday, one of the most direct indications so far of its position at talks with Washington," Reuters reports.

Tehran has rejected White House demands that the country's ballistic missile arsenal also be subject of the talks, but this fresh Iranian offer to dilute its nuclear stockpile marks a significant turn, showing a willingness to entertain serious compromise on the nuclear front.

Reuters recounts, "Washington has demanded Iran relinquish its stockpile - estimated last year by the UN nuclear agency at more than 440 kg - of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade."

But now the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, is strongly signaling Tehran is ready to play ball, even if it is on Washington's terms - and after a history of the US side breaking its word (starting with the first Trump admin's unilateral pullout from the JCPOA nuclear deal).

"The possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium... depends on whether, in return, all sanctions are lifted or not," Eslami made clear.

All of this stems from last month's very bloody protests and riots inside Iran, largely the result of the stranglehold that US sanctions have on the population. The White House since then has threatened regime change and dialed up the sanctions. 

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the issue in Monday televised remarks. He urged citizens to participate in the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this week, said they must show "resolve" against foreign powers plotting the demise of the Islamic Republic.

"The presence of the people in the march and their expression of loyalty to the Islamic Republic will cause the enemy to stop coveting Iran," Khamenei said.

As for the ongoing negotiations base in Oman, which are at a very early and delicate stage, the geopolitical commentator Moon of Alabama has outlined some astute observations and expected outcomes as follows:

The likely outcome: Trump will have to lift some sanctions and, in exchange, will get some limited nuclear agreement with Iran. I assume that it will be softer on Iran than the JCPOA agreement which had been signed under Obama only to be trashed later by Trump.