The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have resumed another round of high-level nuclear negotiations in Oman, marking the third consecutive weekend of delicate diplomatic engagements between the long-standing geopolitical rivals. Saturday’s talks, which began around midday Omani time (0800 GMT), are expected to delve deeper into technical and expert-level discussions, with the possibility of extension should both sides find common ground on contentious issues.
Leading the Iranian delegation is Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US side is represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Also in attendance are senior experts from both countries, including Michael Anton, head of policy planning at the US State Department, and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Ministers Kazem Gharibabadi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi, as confirmed by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
The primary aim of the negotiations remains the revival or formation of a new nuclear agreement that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a pursuit the Iranian government has repeatedly denied. In exchange, Iran is demanding the lifting of economically debilitating sanctions that have crippled its economy in recent years. These talks follow years of diplomatic strain triggered in 2018 when former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral deal that had originally promised Iran sanctions relief in return for strict limits on its nuclear programme.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Minister Araghchi expressed cautious optimism, noting that if the United States’ objective is solely to ensure Iran does not build nuclear weapons, then such a goal is “achievable.” However, he warned that any demands perceived as “illogical or impractical” by Tehran would undoubtedly hinder progress.
Iran has firmly stated that its defensive capabilities, including its missile development programme, are not open for negotiation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reaffirmed this position during an interview with state television, saying, “Our missile and defence systems are not up for discussion and are outside the scope of these negotiations.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, in a recent interview with Time magazine, restated his preference for a diplomatic resolution, but did not rule out the possibility of military action if talks collapse. “I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped,” he said, underscoring the stakes of the ongoing dialogue.
The mediation role is being handled by Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who has previously facilitated similar back-channel communications between the two nations in earlier rounds held in Muscat and Rome. According to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, while Saturday’s discussions were originally scheduled for just one day, the increasing depth of technical negotiations may lead to an extension.
Tensions remain high, particularly in light of recent sanctions imposed by the US government. On Tuesday, Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure — a move Tehran has labelled as hostile and provocative. These fresh restrictions came just days before the Oman meeting, raising questions about Washington’s sincerity and strategic intentions.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has also raised concerns. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently called on Iran to provide clarification on the construction of new tunnels spotted near its Natanz nuclear facility. Satellite images released by the Institute for Science and International Security showed new developments, including an expanded security perimeter. Grossi noted that Tehran’s response to inquiries had been dismissive, stating: “They are telling us, it’s none of your business.”
On the technical side, the United States has maintained a firm stance against Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a podcast earlier this week, reiterated Washington’s position that Iran should import enriched uranium if it seeks to run a peaceful civil nuclear programme. Iran is currently enriching uranium to levels of up to 60 percent — far above the 3.67 percent limit stipulated in the 2015 agreement but still below the 90 percent required for weapons-grade material.
Responding to such concerns, Araghchi has described Iran’s right to enrich uranium as “non-negotiable,” revealing that Tehran plans to construct at least 19 additional nuclear reactors. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), he stressed that Iran’s nuclear activities remain within the framework of its national interest and international obligations.
Meanwhile, efforts to engage with European powers continue. Iran has initiated renewed dialogue with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all co-signatories of the original JCPOA. However, pressure is mounting on these nations to decide whether to invoke the “snapback” mechanism — a provision in the 2015 deal that would reimpose UN sanctions if Iran is found to be non-compliant. This option is set to expire in October, and the US has been urging its allies to consider activating it.
Iran has warned that any such action could lead to its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a move that would significantly escalate regional and global tensions.
As discussions continue behind closed doors in Muscat, the world watches closely, knowing that the outcome of these sensitive talks could reshape not just US-Iran relations, but the broader dynamics of nuclear diplomacy and global security.
