Iran announces delay in fourth round of US talks Updated

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the postponement of the fourth round of negotiations with the United States regarding Iran's nuclear programme.

The announcement cites a statement from the ministry, which attributes the rescheduling to a proposal by Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, stated, "The change in the date of negotiations follows the suggestion of the Omani Foreign Minister. Further details on the potential new date will be provided in due course."

19:36

Planned negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s accelerating nuclear programme have been postponed, Oman announced on April 1.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed the delay in a message posted on X, Caliber.Az reports.

For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed.

— Badr Albusaidi - بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) May 1, 2025

Al-Busaidi, who has served as a mediator in three previous rounds of negotiations, did not provide further details regarding the postponement.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, issued a statement attributing the delay to Muscat. He said the talks were “postponed at the request of Oman’s foreign minister” and added that Iran remains committed to reaching “a fair and lasting agreement.”

In Washington, a person familiar with the U.S. negotiating team said the United States “had never confirmed its participation” in a potential fourth round of talks in Rome. However, the individual, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, noted that the U.S. expected negotiations to occur “in the near future.”

The indirect discussions, aimed at de-escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, have so far taken place under Omani mediation. No new dates have been publicly confirmed.

19:21

The fourth round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome, is expected to be postponed until next week, Global Affairs Correspondent for Axios Barak Ravid said. 

The delay could also affect a planned May 2 meeting between Iran and the E3 nations — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — also set to take place in Rome.

The fourth round of U.S.-Iran talks which Oman said will take place in Rome this Saturday is likely to be postponed for next week, three sources tell me. As a result E3 meeting with Iran planned for Friday in Rome might also be postponed

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 1, 2025

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed earlier this week that Tehran anticipated holding talks with the United States on May 3, mediated by Oman, which has played a central role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations. Speaking on April 30 during a cabinet meeting, Araghchi also noted that a separate meeting with the E3 powers was expected to occur on May 2.

So far, two rounds of U.S.-Iran talks have been held in Muscat, Oman’s capital, with a third conducted at the Omani embassy in Rome. The discussions aim to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from U.S. economic sanctions—part of an ongoing effort to ease decades of hostility.

By Sabina Mammadli