Delegations from the United States and Iran initiated high-stakes negotiations in Muscat on Friday, signaling a potential thaw in relations as regional instability persists. The talks, hosted by Oman, follow months of escalating tensions across the Middle East and mark the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two nations in 2026.
Oman's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi held separate meetings with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner. The closed-door discussions reportedly focused on security cooperation and economic sanctions relief frameworks.
Analysts suggest the timing reflects growing international pressure to stabilize energy markets and address proxy conflicts affecting global trade routes. Oman, a longstanding neutral mediator in Gulf diplomacy, has positioned itself as a critical facilitator for dialogue amid strained U.S.-Iran relations.
