Senior negotiators from the United States and Iran will meet on Sunday in Muscat for a fresh round of indirect talks aimed at resolving longstanding disputes over Tehran’s nuclear programme. The negotiations come at a critical moment, just days before US President Donald Trump begins a high-stakes visit to the Middle East.
Despite publicly stating a preference for diplomacy, Washington and Tehran remain deeply divided over key issues. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are expected to meet through Omani mediators for what will be the fourth round of talks.
Speaking to Breitbart News on Thursday, Witkoff reiterated Washington’s uncompromising position: “No enrichment. That means dismantlement, no weaponisation,” listing Iran’s major nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan as targets for full dismantlement. He warned that if Sunday’s talks are unproductive, “then they won’t continue and we’ll have to take a different route.”
Reacting to those comments, Araqchi said Iran would never compromise on what it considers its sovereign nuclear rights.
“Iran continues negotiations in good faith… but if the aim of these talks is to limit Iran’s nuclear rights, I state clearly that Iran will not back down from any of its rights,” he said on Saturday.
According to Iranian officials, Tehran is willing to consider certain limits to its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but flatly refuses to end enrichment or hand over its enriched uranium stockpile, which it regards as non-negotiable red lines.
A senior Iranian official told reporters on condition of anonymity: “What the US says publicly differs from what is said in negotiations.” The official added that clarity is expected after Sunday’s session, originally scheduled for 3 May in Rome but postponed due to “logistical reasons” cited by Oman.
Adding further complexity to the talks, Iran has rejected any discussions on its ballistic missile programme and is demanding guarantees that the US will not again unilaterally abandon a future agreement. President Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord during his first term, reimposing sweeping sanctions and reviving a “maximum pressure” campaign.
Since 2019, Iran has breached the limits of the 2015 deal, including accelerating uranium enrichment to 60%, just shy of weapons-grade levels, according to the UN nuclear watchdog.
Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from 13 to 16 May. Analysts believe the outcome of the Muscat talks may influence regional dynamics during the trip.
Tensions remain high, and both sides face growing pressure to either reach a compromise or prepare for potentially severe consequences.
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