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Oman FM: Sixth Round of US-Iran Talks 06/12 06:17
Iran and the United States will hold a sixth round of negotiations over
Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's
foreign minister said Thursday, as regional tensions have spiked in recent days.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Iran and the United States will hold a
sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program
this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's foreign minister said Thursday, as
regional tensions have spiked in recent days.
The announcement by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the
U.S. is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to
operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for
regional unrest.
Meanwhile, there have been warnings that ships could be targeted in regional
waters over the tensions.
Al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X.
"I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in
Muscat this Sunday the 15th," he wrote.
Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is
serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S.
Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by
U.S. President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Middle East envoy Steve
Witkoff. An accord could see the U.S. lift some of its crushing economic
sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its
enrichment of uranium.
But a failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle
East on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Iran's economy, long ailing, could enter a free fall that could worsen the
simmering unrest at home. Israel or the U.S. might carry out long-threatened
airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And Tehran may decide to fully
end its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a
bomb.
Iran and the U.S. have held previous talks in Muscat and Rome.
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