In a move underscoring Oman’s growing diplomatic clout, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani will lead a senior team to Muscat on Tuesday. Nour News reports the trip aims to discuss pressing regional and global issues alongside strengthening bilateral relations with Omani leaders.
The timing is no coincidence. Oman facilitated indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US last Friday, positioning itself as a vital bridge. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that subsequent rounds’ logistics will be coordinated with Muscat.
President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the talks as progress but highlighted US pressure tactics, including fresh sanction threats. This comes after US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities during the recent Israel-Iran clashes—the first high-level contact since.
On X, Pezeshkian defended Iran’s nuclear program as NPT-compliant, emphasizing reciprocity over coercion. Araghchi echoed this, slamming US sanctions and West Asian military moves as insincere. He stressed uranium enrichment as an untouchable right and excluded missiles from negotiations entirely.
US and Israeli calls for Iran to scrap its nuclear setup and missile efforts persist, but Tehran remains steadfast. Larijani’s discussions could shape the path forward, testing whether diplomacy can prevail over confrontation in a tense Middle East landscape.