Oman Foreign Minister Announces Upcoming Sixth Round of Iran-U.S. Negotiations Scheduled for Sunday

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran and the United States are set to begin a sixth round of discussions about Tehran’s advancing nuclear program this Sunday in Oman. This announcement was made by Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, amid rising regional tensions. The decision to hold talks comes as the U.S. is reducing the number of non-essential personnel in the Middle East due to concerns over potential unrest. Recent warnings suggest that ships in regional waters could be at risk amidst the escalating tensions.

The confirmation by al-Busaidi was shared on the social media platform X, where he expressed his satisfaction about the talks being held in Muscat. For days, Iran had indicated that negotiations would take place, but Oman’s mediation role had not been publicly acknowledged until now. There has been no immediate response from the U.S. regarding this development. Securing a deal is among the diplomatic priorities for U.S. President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

A possible agreement could lead to the U.S. lifting some economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran significantly limiting or ceasing its uranium enrichment program. However, failure to reach an accord may exacerbate existing tensions in a Middle East already affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Such a failure could impact Iran’s already struggling economy, potentially leading to more domestic unrest. Moreover, it could prompt the U.S. or Israel to execute long-planned airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

Consequently, Iran may also choose to halt its cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, potentially accelerating its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Previous negotiations have taken place in both Muscat and Rome.