Oman Hosts High-Level Iran-US Nuclear Negotiations

Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are set to begin in Oman on Friday, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The announcement comes after earlier reports suggested that the talks might be delayed due to disagreements over the format and venue.

The negotiations were first planned to be held in Turkey. However, Iran later requested that the discussions be limited to a direct, bilateral meeting with the United States and focus mainly on its nuclear programme. After these changes, both sides agreed to hold the talks in Oman. A White House official confirmed that the U.S. will participate in the high-level discussions.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed support for the talks and has asked his Foreign Minister to pursue fair and balanced negotiations. Iranian leaders say they are ready for diplomacy if their national interests and rights are respected.

On the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hopes the talks will cover not only Iran’s nuclear activities but also other concerns. These include Iran’s ballistic missile programme, its support for armed groups in the region, and human rights issues. Rubio also said that the views of Iran’s clerical leadership do not always reflect the wishes of ordinary Iranian citizens.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that diplomacy with Iran is complicated because the country’s supreme leader holds the final decision-making power, not the elected president. He stressed that President Donald Trump’s main goal is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Vance added that while the U.S. prefers a peaceful and diplomatic solution, military action could still be considered if necessary.

The upcoming talks in Oman are seen as an important step toward reducing tensions between the two countries. Observers say the outcome could have a major impact on stability in the Middle East and global security.