Muscat (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Sunday, the sixth round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran will take place in Muscat. Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi made the announcement on Thursday, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that Iran would not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon, Reuters reported.
As of April 2025, the United States and Iran have embarked on a new round of negotiations to try to restore a nuclear deal with the help of Oman as a mediator. This process was in response to the increased tensions after the US withdrew unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear deal during Donald Trump’s first term and Iran’s increased nuclear program activity.
On April 12, 2025, negotiations began in Oman featuring US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The initial round was termed “constructive”, with both parties engaging with Omani mediators in separate rooms at first. Subsequent rounds shifted between Muscat and Rome, using both direct and indirect discussion methods.
The United States maintains military outposts in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, among other key oil-producing areas. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the voluntary removal of military dependents from several Middle Eastern locales, according to a U.S. official. The majority of the family members are stationed in Bahrain hence, they are most impacted by the relocation.
Is Trump serious about military action against Iran?
On Wednesday, Trump stated that U.S. personnel were being relocated out of the Middle East because “it’s a potentially hazardous area.” Reuters previously reported that the U.S. was planning an evacuation of its embassy in Iraq and would let military families leave other locations in the Middle East due to increased security threats in the region, according to U.S. and Iraqi sources.
Trump has repeatedly warned that he’ll strike Iran if negotiations over its nuclear program stall. In an interview released earlier on Wednesday, he said he’s losing faith that Tehran will agree to halt uranium enrichment, a top US demand.
Meanwhile, Iran’s defense minister has warned the United States that Tehran would target U.S. regional bases if nuclear talks break down and war is drawn in.
