Oman Hosts Indirect Iran-U.S. Talks in Muscat Amid Hopes for Renewed Diplomacy
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: Oman’s capital Muscat served as the venue for rare and potentially significant indirect talks between the United States and Iran, with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi playing a central mediating role between the two sides.
In a statement shared via social media on Saturday, Sayyid Badr confirmed that the talks were conducted in a “friendly atmosphere”, laying the groundwork for what could become a new phase of dialogue aimed at achieving a fair and binding agreement between the longtime adversaries.
“I am proud to announce that we hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and mediated to begin a process of dialogue and negotiations,” said Sayyid Badr. He added that the talks were aimed at bridging viewpoints with the shared goal of enhancing regional and global peace, security, and stability.
Indirect Negotiations Through Omani Mediation
According to Iranian and Omani sources, the dialogue marked the first indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in years, facilitated entirely through Omani channels. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that the delegations were stationed in separate rooms, with messages exchanged through Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr.
The Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived in Muscat earlier in the day and held initial discussions with the Omani foreign minister before the latter conveyed Iran’s position to the American side.
Cautious Optimism from Iran
Iran emphasized that it was giving diplomacy a “genuine chance”, contingent on the American side demonstrating seriousness and goodwill. The preliminary engagement is being viewed by Tehran as an opportunity to gauge Washington’s intentions in resuming constructive diplomatic engagement.
Iranian officials praised Oman’s consistent and balanced approach to regional diplomacy. In a post on social media, Iran’s Foreign Ministry highlighted Muscat’s hosting of the talks as a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Iran and Oman and the Sultanate’s positive role in promoting regional dialogue.
A Diplomatic Milestone?
While the outcome of the Muscat meeting remains uncertain, the tone and substance of the engagement suggest a potential thaw in U.S.-Iran relations. Observers view Oman’s neutral and respected status as a valuable bridge between conflicting parties in the region.
Sayyid Badr concluded his remarks by expressing Oman’s ongoing commitment to supporting this diplomatic track and reaffirmed his intention to continue efforts to bring both parties closer to a meaningful resolution.
