The negotiations, involving delegations from Iran and the USA, began with an official meeting in Muscat, supported by Omani mediators, as reported by the Iranian agency Mehr.
The Iranian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is joined by Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy Hamid Ghanbari. The American side is represented by the President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Jared Kushner.
Before the negotiations began, both sides met with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi.
A few hours ago, Araghchi noted that Iran enters these negotiations with good intentions and a willingness to consider previous experiences, emphasizing the importance of protecting its rights. Iran's main focus is on issues related to the lifting or easing of sanctions, while the USA seeks to expand the agenda for discussion, although Tehran has agreed to concentrate solely on the nuclear program.
On the eve, Axios reported that pressure from Arab allies on the US president was one of the key factors that facilitated these negotiations. Leaders from at least nine countries in the region urged the American president to maintain the meeting, according to the publication.
In 2025, five rounds of negotiations took place in Oman between Steve Witkoff and Abbas Araghchi regarding the Iranian nuclear program, but they did not yield results. Personal contacts were interrupted after the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in July. On January 26, Donald Trump called on Iran to conclude a "fair and equitable" deal, implying a complete abandonment of nuclear weapons.
