Iran confirms indirect talks with US to be held in Oman On April 19

Iran has confirmed that the second round of indirect negotiations with the United States will take place in Muscat, Oman, on April 19, following a series of diplomatic consultations.

On April 14, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed speculation suggesting a change of venue, stating that Oman will remain the host for the forthcoming discussions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

“After recent consultations, it was agreed that the talks will proceed in Muscat,” Baghaei said, adding that the Omani Foreign Ministry will once again act as facilitator, as it did during the first round of talks.

​On April 12, 2025, Iran and the United States held their first indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, marking a significant step toward reviving elements of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The discussions, facilitated by Omani mediators, involved U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Both parties described the talks as "constructive," agreeing to reconvene on April 19.

The negotiations aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to address concerns over its uranium enrichment program, which has advanced to near weapons-grade levels since the U.S. withdrew from the original deal in 2018. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes.​

While the U.S. favors holding the next round of talks in Rome, Iran insists on Oman as the venue. The choice of location reflects underlying tensions, with Iran wary of direct negotiations under ongoing U.S. sanctions. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has cautiously endorsed the talks amid internal economic pressures and international scrutiny.​

The upcoming meeting on April 19 is expected to delve deeper into issues such as uranium stockpile reduction and reinstating International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. Both sides face domestic and international pressures to reach a substantive agreement.

By Aghakazim Guliyev