The Sultanate of Oman, which has served as mediator in recent dialogues between the United States and Iran, has publicly urged both sides to return to the negotiating table after their discussions were suspended in June.
Speaking at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said his country “would like to see a return to negotiations between Iran and the United States.”
Al-Busaidi revealed that Oman hosted five rounds of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran this year. He said: “Just three days before the sixth and possibly decisive round of talks, Israel unleashed its bombs and missiles in an illegal and deadly act of sabotage.”
He also pressed Gulf states to move away from isolating Iran, arguing that “over the years the Gulf Cooperation Council has at best sat back and permitted the isolation of Iran... I believe this needs to change,” according to AFP.
The diplomacy, mediated by Oman, focused on Tehran’s nuclear program and broader regional security concerns, but ground to a halt after the surprise Israeli-Iran confrontation in June, followed by US strikes on Iranian enrichment facilities. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected President Donald Trump’s offer to restart negotiations, declaring: “Deals built on coercion are nothing but bullying.”
Tehran insists its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, while the United States, Israel and European allies view it as a path to a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state currently enriching uranium to 60 percent - near weapons grade of 90 percent - raising fresh pressure for talks.
Al-Busaidi stressed Oman’s longstanding role as interlocutor, stating that Muscat had welcomed all parties to engage in an “inclusive mechanism” involving Iran, Iraq, Yemen and others. He called for a regional dialogue framework rather than confrontation.
“I think we are very close to a basis for negotiations ... we will continue to work together,” he added in earlier remarks.
In recent days, Omani and Iranian officials met in Muscat and Tehran to explore next steps. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi, reportedly told his hosts that Washington had shown little willingness for “talks based on equality and dignity,” suggesting that Tehran sees little reason to proceed under the current conditions.
