Iran and the United States are set to conduct a third round of negotiations in Oman this Saturday, seeking to address the growing concerns over Tehranโs nuclear program, which is nearing weapons-grade uranium enrichment levels. These upcoming talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, mark a significant point in the relationship between the U.S. and Iran, demonstrating a concerted effort to find a diplomatic solution. This particular meeting will be notable for involving experts who will delve into the technical intricacies that could be pivotal to any potential agreement.
The nuclear tensions between these two nations stretch back decades, beginning in 1967 when Iran obtained its Tehran Research Reactor through the U.S.โs Atoms for Peace initiative. Significant changes followed in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution, which saw Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlaviโs regime overthrown and U.S. hostages taken in Tehran. Iranโs nuclear ambitions were largely dormant due to international pressures until August 2002, when a clandestine nuclear facility in Natanz was uncovered by Western intelligence and Iranian dissidents.
By June 2003, diplomatic efforts by the UK, France, and Germany aimed at curbing Iranโs nuclear activities were underway, leading to a temporary halt in uranium enrichment. However, with the rise to power of hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2006, Iran renewed its enrichment activities, causing negotiation efforts by the European powers to falter. By 2009, under President Obama, secret U.S.-Iran communications began in Oman, setting the stage for face-to-face dialogues in 2012.
A breakthrough came on July 14, 2015, with an international accord that limited Iranโs uranium enrichment, while lifting specific economic sanctions. Despite this, the nuclear deal unraveled in May 2018 when Donald Trump withdrew U.S. involvement, criticizing the agreement and seeking revised terms to address Iranโs missile program and regional activities. Iran began distancing itself from the pact by May 2019, subsequent to a spate of regional incidents attributed to Tehran.
Tensions further escalated in January 2020 following the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, leading to Iran launching missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq. The conflict caused significant casualties and heightened risks even further when an Iranian missile mistakenly downed a Ukrainian passenger aircraft, killing all 176 onboard. Meanwhile, more clandestine operations targeted Iranโs critical nuclear sites, with mishaps occurring at the Natanz plant in 2020 and 2021.
Attempts to restore the nuclear deal persisted in 2021 with newly-installed President Joe Biden, who reopened dialogues; however, they proved unfruitful, and enrichment activities continued. By July 2022, Iranian officials openly acknowledged their capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons, although they declared they had not yet resolved to do so.
Against this backdrop of rising regional strife and new Middle Eastern conflicts, including skirmishes involving Iranian-backed factions such as Hamas and the Houthis, the stakes have intensified. The U.S. confirmed plans for direct talks with Iran by April 2025, following a tumultuous start to Trumpโs second presidential term marked by aggressive military actions.
Efforts toward diplomacy saw the first round of U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman on April 12, 2025, with further meetings in Rome the following week. The upcoming third round in Oman, scheduled for April 26, 2025, brings expert-level talks to the forefront, aiming to offer detailed insights into how an agreement might be forged.