U.S. and Iran Resume Tense Indirect Talks in Oman as Military Pressure Looms Over Nuclear Dispute

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Iran and the United States held indirect negotiations in Oman on Friday in talks that appeared to circle back to fundamental disagreements over how to approach Tehran’s nuclear program, even as Washington introduced a new and highly visible element to the discussions by involving its top military commander in the Middle East.

The talks, held in Muscat, unfolded against a backdrop of heightened military tension in the region. For the first time, the United States included U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, whose presence in full dress uniform underscored the proximity of American military power. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other U.S. warships are currently operating in the Arabian Sea off Iran’s coast, a deployment widely viewed as both a deterrent and a warning.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened the use of force if Iran refuses to reach an agreement curbing its nuclear activities. The carrier was dispatched earlier following Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests, a campaign that killed thousands and led to the detention of tens of thousands more. Gulf Arab states, many of which host U.S. forces and sit within range of Iranian missiles, have voiced deep concern that any military confrontation could spiral into a regional war.

Those fears have been sharpened by recent incidents at sea. U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone operating near the Abraham Lincoln, and Iran attempted to intercept a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz just days before the Muscat talks, highlighting how quickly tensions could escalate.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a firm but measured tone following the discussions, emphasizing that Tehran views the current atmosphere as a major obstacle to progress.

“We did note that nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats,” Araghchi told reporters. “The prerequisite for any dialogue is refraining from threats and pressure. We stated this point explicitly today as well, and we expect it to be observed so that the possibility of continuing the talks exists.”

The U.S. delegation, led by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and joined by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, offered no immediate public comment. Araghchi said the delegations would return to their respective capitals, indicating that this round of talks had concluded without a breakthrough.

Despite the stalemate, Iran’s top diplomat offered cautious optimism in a live interview on Iranian state television from Muscat. He described the discussions as taking place over multiple rounds and said they focused primarily on establishing a framework for future negotiations rather than resolving substantive disputes.

“We will hold consultations with our capitals regarding the next steps, and the results will be conveyed to Oman’s foreign minister,” Araghchi said, adding that rebuilding trust would be the central challenge going forward. “The mistrust that has developed is a serious challenge facing the negotiations. We must first address this issue, and then enter into the next level of negotiations.”

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, whose country has long served as a discreet intermediary between Tehran and Washington, described the talks as useful in clarifying the positions of both sides and identifying potential areas for progress. Oman framed the discussions as an effort to lay the groundwork for resuming both diplomatic and technical negotiations, rather than as a step toward an immediate agreement or a reduction in regional tensions.

The Muscat meetings followed earlier plans for a broader negotiating format that would have included regional powers and taken place in Turkey. Those talks were expected to address not only Iran’s nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program, a scope Iran reportedly rejected in favor of limiting discussions strictly to the nuclear file.

Before Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, Tehran had been enriching uranium to 60% purity, a level that places it just short of weapons-grade material. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that Iran is the only country enriching uranium to that level without possessing nuclear weapons. Since the June conflict, Iran has refused requests by inspectors to visit sites damaged in airstrikes, intensifying concerns among nonproliferation experts.

Iran had already curtailed international inspections following the U.S. decision in 2018 to withdraw unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear agreement, a move that set off years of escalating tensions and incremental violations of the deal’s limits.

Friday’s talks were held at a palace near Muscat’s international airport, a venue Oman has used for past U.S.-Iran engagements. Iranian officials were seen arriving first and later returning to their hotel, while the American delegation arrived separately, reflecting the indirect nature of the negotiations.

Significant questions remain about what concessions, if any, Iran is prepared to consider. Tehran has insisted that halting enrichment or shipping its stockpile of highly enriched uranium abroad are nonstarters. Reports circulating in regional media suggested that intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar had floated a proposal under which Iran would pause enrichment for three years, export its enriched uranium and pledge not to initiate the use of ballistic missiles. Russia has indicated it could take custody of the uranium, though Iranian officials have rejected such terms.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier in the week that any meaningful agreement would need to encompass Iran’s nuclear program, missile development and regional activities.

“I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys,” Rubio said, “but we’re going to try to find out.”

For now, the Muscat talks appear to have clarified positions rather than narrowed differences, leaving diplomacy delicately balanced between renewed engagement and the ever-present risk of confrontation.