Oman has announced that planned negotiations between Iran and the US this weekend regarding Tehran’s rapidly moving forward nuclear program have been postponed.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busadi made the announcement in a post on Social Platform X.
“For logistics reasons, we are rescheduling the tentatively planned US Iran conference on Saturday, May 3rd,” he wrote. “A new date will be announced when mutual agreement is reached.”
Al-Busaidi, who has previously mediated consultations in three rounds, did not elaborate.
Esmail Baghhai, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement explaining the consultation, “It was postponed at the request of the Foreign Minister of Oman.”
He said Iran is committed to reaching a “fair and lasting agreement.”
Meanwhile, those familiar with US negotiators said in a fourth-round speech in Rome that Washington “never participated.”
However, the person said he hopes the US will meet “in the near future.”
Two other rounds were held in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
The talks are seeking to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting some of the destructive economic sanctions the US has imposed on the country.
The negotiations were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkov.
Trump threatens the air
US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites if the deal was reached.
Iranian officials warn that nuclear weapons can be pursued as uranium stockpiles are enriched at weapons-grade levels.
The Landmark 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, restricted Tehran’s nuclear activity.
However, Trump unilaterally retreated in 2018, moving for several years of attack and tension.
The wider Middle Eastern region also remains in the wake of the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the US continues its Air Strike campaign called “Operation Rough Rider” targeting Yemeni Houthi rebel groups that have been supported by Iran for a long time.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses issued a warning to Iran on Thursday about his support for extremist groups.
“Message to Iran: We see fatal support for your Houtis. We know exactly what you’re doing,” he wrote.
“You know very well what the US military can do — and you’ve been warned. You pay the outcome at the time and place of our choice.”
