Iran has announced a new round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, Oman. This sixth round of discussions comes in the wake of a renewed proposal from Washington aimed at reviving a deal to limit Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities.
The high-level talks mark the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord during his first term. That deal had limited Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67%, a threshold Iran has since far exceeded.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed the upcoming meeting, noting it had been rescheduled from Thursday due to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s participation in the Oslo Forum in Norway. Araghchi, who is also Iran’s chief negotiator, recently described the U.S. proposal as ambiguous and lacking crucial elements from prior negotiations particularly the lifting of economic sanctions, which remains a core demand for Tehran.
In response, Iran plans to submit a “reasonable, logical and balanced” counter-proposal through mediator Oman. Iranian officials maintain that uranium enrichment is a sovereign right and not open for negotiation, while the U.S. sees enrichment beyond the 2015 limits as a red line.
Currently, Iran enriches uranium to 60%, well above the deal’s original cap but below the 90% level needed for a nuclear weapon. Western nations remain wary of Iran’s intentions, accusing it of covertly pursuing atomic weapons—a claim Iran continues to deny, asserting its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.
Meanwhile, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has expressed concerns over Tehran’s lack of cooperation, particularly regarding unexplained nuclear materials found at undeclared sites. Iran has rejected the IAEA’s findings, accusing the agency of bias and relying on allegedly forged Israeli documents.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi dismissed claims of a negotiation deadlock and emphasized that Iran’s national interests guide its approach to the talks. With the Board of Governors meeting ongoing in Vienna, Iran warned against any hostile resolution, stating it would reduce cooperation with the IAEA if provoked.
The outcome of Sunday’s meeting could be pivotal in determining the future of the Iran nuclear deal and regional stability.
