Hopes for renewed diplomatic dialogue between Washington and Tehran were dealt a fresh blow on Saturday, as Oman announced the cancellation of a planned round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations that had been scheduled for Sunday in Muscat.
The statement was issued by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Oman, which has historically played the role of a quiet mediator between the U.S. and Iran, had been facilitating backchannel diplomacy aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The abrupt cancellation follows Israel’s sweeping aerial assault on Iranian territory late Friday. The strikes reportedly targeted senior military commanders, key nuclear scientists, and several nuclear-related facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was a necessary step to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability—a claim that has escalated tensions across the region.
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A senior official from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, speaking anonymously to reporters, confirmed the cancellation of Sunday’s meeting.
The official emphasized that while the Muscat session would no longer take place, Washington remained committed to diplomatic efforts. “We still hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,” the official stated.
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The decision to suspend the meeting adds to growing uncertainty around the future of nuclear diplomacy. Talks had shown signs of revival in recent months after years of deadlock, but the latest developments may further stall progress.
With regional stability hanging in the balance and international pressure mounting, both sides now face a pivotal moment—whether to double down on confrontation or find a path back to dialogue.
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