Oman Announces Postponement of US-Iran Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi announced on Thursday the postponement of a fourth round of talks between the United States and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Al Jazeera reports.

The talks were scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday, May 3rd. “For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd,” al-Busaidi stated on social media platform X.

“New dates will be announced when mutually agreed.”

Oman has previously mediated three rounds of talks between the two countries, with the first taking place in Muscat on April 12, followed by a meeting in Rome the subsequent weekend, and a third round back in Muscat on April 26. The US had touted “progress” towards a nuclear deal during these discussions.

However, tensions between the Iranian and US governments have been escalating. The Trump administration has stated its objective is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, though Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes.

The US has hinted at broader goals, including the total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. In mid-April, US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program” as part of any final agreement.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran accused the US of exhibiting “contradictory behaviour and provocative statements” concerning the nuclear negotiations. On Wednesday, the US implemented a series of aggressive measures as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, further straining relations.

The US Department of State sanctioned seven entities involved in the trade of Iranian oil products, alleging that the proceeds “support its terrorist activities and proxies.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Iranian support of the Houthis in Yemen could result in US retaliation. Trump also issued a social media message urging the international community to cease its purchases of Iranian oil products.

These developments follow the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral agreement that offered Iran relief from international sanctions in exchange for reducing its uranium enrichment and allowing inspections of its nuclear facilities. Trump initiated a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran during his first term and has revived this strategy since returning to office in January.

In March, Trump warned that he would hold Iran responsible for Houthi strikes against ships in the Red Sea and suggested potential military action.

“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!” Trump wrote on March 17.