Iran-US Talks Revived: Oman Breakthrough & White House Shift

Talks between the U.S. and Iran, previously on the verge of collapse, are scheduled to proceed in Muscat, Oman, on Friday at approximately 10 a.m. local time, following a last-minute effort by Arab states to maintain negotiations.

U.S.-Iran Talks Revived in Oman

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Wednesday that the talks would take place in Oman, expressing gratitude to Omani officials for the arrangements. U.S. officials have also confirmed the talks will go forward.

The resumption of discussions occurs amid a significant increase in U.S. naval and airpower in the region and is seen as a final opportunity for Tehran to potentially avoid a U.S. strike targeting its leadership and nuclear program.

Earlier on Wednesday, the talks had stalled as Iran insisted the agenda be limited to its nuclear program. The U.S. had demanded discussions also include Tehran’s ballistic missile program, a condition Iran rejected.

Former President Trump indicated that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “should be very worried” following reports of the initial collapse of negotiations.

Reports indicate the talks were reinstated after appeals from several Arab and Muslim countries urging the U.S. not to abandon negotiations. Despite its limited negotiating leverage, Iran maintains that the sole focus should be on providing assurances regarding the non-military purpose of its nuclear program and that discussions must be held in Oman, where previous rounds of talks occurred.

Iran had anticipated securing agreements from Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, to hold the talks in Oman and drop plans for Turkey. However, Witkoff is now scheduled to travel to Doha and then return to Washington without meeting Iranian officials. The U.S. has deployed a substantial naval fleet to the region, which Trump has stated he is prepared to use.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the U.S. had sought a forum in Turkey agreed upon by multiple partners, but faced conflicting reports from Iran regarding their agreement. Rubio affirmed the U.S. remains prepared to engage with Iran, but stressed the need to address ballistic missiles, support for terrorist organizations, the nuclear program, and the treatment of Iranian citizens.

Diplomats noted Rubio’s remarks allowed for a potential sequencing of discussions, initially focusing on the nuclear file. Iran hopes the talks in Oman will lead to a joint statement committing both sides to negotiation and de-escalation, paving the way for direct discussions. However, the U.S. appears determined to adhere to its preferred agenda and format, believing Iran is in a weak negotiating position.

There is no guarantee of resolving the nuclear issue, as Iran insists on retaining its right to enrich uranium domestically and opposes transferring its existing enriched stockpile to a third country, such as Russia, despite a standing Russian proposal to accept it.

Rubio reiterated that the U.S. does not view meeting with Iran as a concession and emphasized Iran’s willingness to discuss only its nuclear program, without agreeing to cease uranium enrichment within its borders or export existing stockpiles.

Internal tensions within Iran regarding its negotiating stance have surfaced, with criticism directed at Ali Shamkhani, former secretary of the supreme national security council, for his warnings of likely war and suggestion that Iran only needs to reduce the purity of its uranium stock.