Iran, U.S. start high-stakes talks under shadow of regional conflict

Iran and the United States began "indirect" talks in Oman on Saturday aimed at jump-starting negotiations over Tehran's fast-advancing nuclear program, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal.

Representatives of Iran and the United States were positioned in separate rooms, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi was mediating the negotiations by relaying the two sides' views and positions to each other regarding Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of Washington's sanctions, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was leading Iran's delegation while Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was heading the U.S. side. The talks were the first between Iran and a Trump administration, including his first term in 2017-21.

"The current focus of the talks will be de-escalating regional tensions, prisoner exchanges and limited agreements to ease sanctions (against Iran) in exchange for controlling Iran's nuclear program," an Omani source told Reuters.

Baghaei denied this account but did not specify what was false.

Oman has long been an intermediary between Western powers and Iran, having brokered the release of several foreign citizens and dual nationals held by the Islamic Republic.

Also on Saturday, the Omani authorities released a comprehensive summary of the key stages of Iran-U.S. negotiations mediated by Oman since 2013, saying Oman's "quiet diplomacy" and "neutrality" have made it a trusted mediator for both sides.

Araghchi had said earlier it was too early to comment on the duration of the talks. But shortly after the negotiations began, Baghaei told state TV that "we really don't expect this round of talks to be long."

"This is a beginning. So it is normal at this stage for the two sides to present to each other their fundamental positions through the Omani intermediary," Baghaei said.

There was no word yet on the talks from the U.S. side.

(With input from Reuters and Xinhua)

(Cover: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat, Oman, April 12, 2025. /Reuters)