Iran Proposes Indirect Nuclear Talks with US, Eyes Oman as Mediator

Iran has presented a proposal for indirect negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program, suggesting Oman as a potential mediator, according to Bloomberg.

This comes as the Trump administration has repeatedly expressed a desire for direct talks on a new nuclear agreement to replace the one abandoned during President Trump’s first term.

While President Trump has urged direct engagement, Iran has consistently rejected the idea of direct negotiations with the US.

In March, President Trump reportedly gave Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a two-month deadline to reach an agreement or face potential military action. In response, Khamenei asserted that Iran “won’t start a war, but will respond to any threat with full force,” according to a report by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency citing Major-General Mohammad Bagheri.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani described Iran’s proposal for indirect negotiations as a “responsible, generous, and wise offer,” and stated, “we are waiting for the US response.” Kanaani also identified the Gulf-Arab Sultanate of Oman, which has a history of facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington, as a “main candidate” to mediate any such talks.

Echoing this sentiment, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented, “the ball is in the US court.” He reiterated Iran’s opposition to direct negotiations, stating, “The offer for direct negotiations isn’t acceptable to us for reasons repeatedly stated before, but we’re ready for indirect negotiations through Oman,” as reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Kanaani further noted that a trilateral, expert-level meeting is taking place in Moscow on Monday, involving Iranian, Russian, and Chinese officials to discuss the stalled 2015 nuclear deal.