Iran and the United States Resume Nuclear Negotiations in Oman Amid Heightened Tensions
Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States are set to restart on Friday in Oman, marking a significant return to nuclear negotiations that were previously derailed by regional conflicts and internal unrest. The talks come at a critical juncture, with President Donald Trump intensifying pressure on Tehran and warning of potential military action if Iran proceeds with mass executions linked to recent protests. This move reintroduces Iran's nuclear programme as a central battleground in US foreign policy after months of escalating regional tensions.
Why the Iran-US Talks Are Restarting Now
The meeting in Oman represents the latest attempt to revive negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme, following five rounds of talks in Rome and Muscat last year that were disrupted by a 12-day war initiated by Israel in June. During that conflict, US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites, leading Iran to acknowledge in November that the attacks forced a halt to all uranium enrichment activities. However, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access the bombed facilities, leaving the broader nuclear dispute unresolved. As a result, Washington and Tehran are returning to the negotiating table amid deep-seated mistrust and sharply diverging objectives.
Trump's Letter to Khamenei: Diplomacy Backed by Force
President Trump launched the current diplomatic push by writing directly to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in early 2025. The letter, dispatched on March 5, 2025, was followed by a television interview where Trump acknowledged sending it, stating, "I've written them a letter saying, I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing." This message set the tone for the administration's approach, combining renewed diplomacy with a strategy of "maximum pressure", including sanctions and repeated hints that Iran's nuclear infrastructure could be targeted. In response, Khamenei has warned that Iran would retaliate against any attack, a threat delivered as the Islamic Republic faces internal strain following nationwide protests and a subsequent crackdown.
Oman's Role as Mediator and Its Significance
Oman has once again positioned itself as a key intermediary, facilitating contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The two men have engaged in face-to-face meetings after indirect talks, a rare occurrence given the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the countries for decades. However, the process has not been smooth, with Witkoff drawing criticism after suggesting Iran could be allowed limited enrichment of 3.67%—a level set under the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama. Trump withdrew the United States from that agreement in 2018, and his administration now insists Iran must accept zero enrichment under any new deal, a condition Tehran has repeatedly rejected.
What the US Wants: Zero Enrichment, Missiles, and Proxies
The negotiations are taking place under explicit threats from Trump, who has framed the talks as a choice between a deal and military action. The Trump administration is seeking a broader agreement that goes beyond the nuclear file, including:
- Zero uranium enrichment and verification of non-weaponisation
- Major constraints on Iran's ballistic missile programme
- An end to support for regional proxy forces
Trump has previously issued stark warnings if diplomacy fails, including threats of "bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." Recent military incidents, such as the reported downing of an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln this week, have further heightened tensions.
Iran's Position: Sanctions Relief First, 'Red Lines' on Defence
Iran is expected to push for a narrower agreement focused on economic relief, demanding sanctions lifting in exchange for nuclear concessions. Tehran has described its missile programme and national security posture as "non-negotiable" red lines, and Iranian officials have consistently rejected Washington's insistence on eliminating all enrichment. For Iran's leadership, the talks also occur under acute domestic pressure following protests that began in late December amid the collapse of the rial currency and escalated into nationwide demonstrations. Authorities responded with a crackdown that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained.
Iran's Nuclear Programme: What Worries the West
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful, but officials have increasingly signalled that weaponisation could be pursued. Currently, Iran enriches uranium to 60%—near weapons-grade—making it the only country in the world without a declared nuclear weapons programme to reach that level. Under the 2015 agreement, Iran was limited to enrichment of 3.67% and a stockpile of 300 kilograms. The most recent IAEA assessment placed Iran's uranium stockpile at roughly 9,870 kilograms, including a fraction enriched to 60%. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has not yet restarted a formal weapons programme but has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so."
Possible Compromise Proposals: A Three-Year Freeze
Despite the public rigidity of both sides, mediators from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt have floated a possible framework for compromise. Under that proposal, Iran would halt enrichment for three years and transfer its enriched stockpile to a third country, buying time for a longer-term settlement. However, analysts remain sceptical about whether this plan can overcome the central dispute: Washington's demand for zero enrichment versus Tehran's insistence on maintaining what it views as a sovereign right.
A Long History of Hostility Shaping the Talks
The negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of nearly half a century of US-Iran hostility. Iran was once a key US ally under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until the Islamic Revolution in 1979 toppled the monarchy and established the current theocratic system. Later that year, the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran sparked the 444-day hostage crisis, severing diplomatic relations. The Iran-Iraq war, the US role in Gulf confrontations, and decades of sanctions and proxy conflict have entrenched deep mistrust. The 2015 nuclear deal briefly improved relations, but Trump's withdrawal from the accord in 2018 reignited tensions that persist today, shaping the complex dynamics of the current talks.
