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Oman will host negotiations this week between Iran’s foreign minister and the US president’s special envoy.
Iran’s foreign minister has verified that indirect discussions between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran’s nuclear program are scheduled for Saturday in Oman.
The two nations will use intermediaries for communication instead of direct, in-person meetings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a Tuesday interview with the Tasnim news agency that he and Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, will head the high-level Omani negotiations.
“It presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The onus is on America,” the Iranian foreign minister posted on X on Tuesday.
According to Iran’s NourNews agency, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al-Busaidi is also expected to participate.
Trump announced on Monday that the US will hold “very high-level talks” with Iran this Saturday to discuss its nuclear program, cautioning that failure to reach an agreement would mean a “very bad day” for Iran.
The US president previously mentioned sending a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting renewed nuclear deal negotiations, which the US abandoned during Trump’s initial term in 2018. He further warned that if Tehran declines the offer, it could face bombing strikes “the likes of which it has never seen.”
Tehran, which denies pursuing nuclear weapons, turned down the request for direct talks. Araghchi dismissed the proposal as “meaningless,” questioning, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has affirmed Tehran’s readiness to engage in dialogue with Washington, but only under equal conditions. He urged the Trump administration to demonstrate a genuine dedication to negotiations, stressing that Iran will not consent to talks under duress or humiliating circumstances.
While Trump emphasized his preference for a diplomatic solution with Iran, he cautioned that “Iran is going to be in great danger” if the talks collapse “because they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
In response to US bombing threats, Iran reportedly put its military on high alert on Sunday and cautioned neighboring countries hosting American bases – including Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain – against supporting potential US strikes.
The intensified rhetoric follows years of strained relations surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program. During his first term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — an international agreement designed to curb Iran’s nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions. Following the US withdrawal and the return of sanctions, Iran is said to have scaled back its commitment to the agreement.