Negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran’s advancing nuclear program, initially set for this weekend, have been postponed, as confirmed by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.
In a post on the social media platform X, al-Busaidi stated,
“For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed.”
He emphasized that the decision was made without further elaboration, although he has facilitated three rounds of discussions thus far.
In response, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, indicated that the postponement was at the request of Oman’s foreign minister. He reiterated Iran’s commitment to achieving
“a fair and lasting agreement.”
Expectations for Future Talks
A source familiar with the negotiations mentioned that the U.S. had not formally confirmed its participation in a potential fourth round set to take place in Rome. However, it was noted that the U.S. anticipates the discussions to resume “in the near future.”
Previous rounds of talks were held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, focusing on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for alleviating some of the stringent economic sanctions imposed by the U.S.
Regional Tensions and Responses
The dialogue has been spearheaded by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Amid these discussions, U.S. President Donald Trump has continually threatened military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if an agreement is not reached.
Iranian officials have warned of the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapon capabilities, given their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. The 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, had previously imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities, but Trump’s withdrawal from the pact in 2018 escalated tensions significantly.
In addition, the broader Middle East remains tense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The U.S. military is actively conducting air strikes, dubbed “Operation Rough Rider,” targeting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, which Iran has historically supported. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning to Iran, stating,
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing.”
Hegseth further cautioned,
“You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”