Nuclear negotiations between US and Iran commence in Muscat, Oman

On Saturday, April 12, the first round of talks between an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and an American delegation led by U.S. Special Envoy to West Asia Steve Witkoff took place in Muscat, capital of Oman, with the delegations sitting in two separate halls for two and a half hours as the Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi passed written notes as the chosen method of communication during the indirect talks. The Iranian foreign minister said that “about four rounds of exchanges of messages” between the two delegations took place. On Wednesday, Iran announced that the next round of talks with the USA - scheduled for April 19 - would be held in Rome.

The talks concern Iranian nuclear programme and American sanctions against Iran and are a direct consequence of the decision by the USA President Donald Trump during his first term to unilaterally withdraw in 2018 from The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA; Persian: برنامه جامع اقدام مشترک, romanized: barnāmeye jāme'e eqdāme moshtarak (برجام, BARJAM)) [also known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal] - the earlier agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and other provisions that was finalized in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations S.C.—China, France, Russia, the U.K., U.S.—plus Germany) together with the European Union.

Hours before the talks were due to begin, Trump told reporters on board Air Force One that he wants Iran “to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Witkoff had emphasised that he had instructions to resolve the "differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible". Before the discussions started, Araghchi had said that his country would like a "fair agreement". Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is not seeking war, nor a nuclear bomb.

Representatives of both countries, noting that the negotiations were "constructive", stated that they will continue in a meeting next week, April 19. While the location has been changed to Rome for the second round of talks, they will continue to take place under Omani intermediation.

== Sources ==

Iran confirms next round of nuclear talks with US set for Rome on Saturday — Al Jazeera, April 16, 2025

Matthew Doran. US and Iran hold 'positive and productive' talks over future of Tehran nuclear program — ABC, April 13, 2025

Oman talks remain indirect, exposing Trump’s propaganda attempt — Tehran Times, April 13, 2025

Virginia Pietromarchi. Iran-US talks in Oman updates: Discussions to continue next week – Tehran — Al Jazeera, April 13, 2025

Iran says no direct talks while threats persist; US discussions ‘positive so far’ — Tehran Times, April 13, 2025

Lyse Doucet, Barbara Tasch. US and Iran hold 'constructive' first round of nuclear talks — BBC, April 12, 2025

Director General. Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) — IAEA, February 26, 2025