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A fresh round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, scheduled to take place this weekend in Oman, has been cancelled due to escalating military tensions between Iran and Israel.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced the cancellation on Saturday, saying, “The Iran-US talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place,” in a post on social media platform X. He reaffirmed Oman’s stance on diplomacy, calling it “the only pathway to lasting peace.”
This would have marked the sixth round of nuclear talks since April, initiated during rising pressure from Washington. US President Donald Trump had previously warned of potential military action should diplomacy fail to yield results.
However, a massive unprovoked series of Israeli airstrikes on Friday targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites has plunged the diplomatic process into uncertainty. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes, heightening fears of a broader conflict in the region.
A US administration official, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed the talks would not go ahead as planned but emphasised that Washington remained committed to negotiations. “While there will be no meeting Sunday, we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,” the official said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out participation in further discussions under current conditions. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian stated that Iran supported diplomacy but would not engage in talks “while the Zionist regime continues its attacks.”
Macron, in his own statement on X, said he had urged Iran to “return swiftly to the negotiating table.”
A major sticking point in the negotiations has been Iran’s continued enrichment of uranium. Western powers suspect Tehran of trying to develop a nuclear weapon—allegations that Iran has repeatedly denied.
