Iran and the US commence crucial discussions amid the backdrop of regional strife.

On Saturday, Iran and the United States initiated high-level discussions in Oman to revive negotiations concerning Tehran’s rapidly progressing nuclear program, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned of military action if an agreement is not reached.

“Indirect talks between Iran and the United States with the mediation of the Omani foreign minister have started,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei posted on X.

Each delegation had its separate room and would exchange messages via Oman’s foreign minister, Baghaei said.

“The focus of the talks will be de-escalating regional tensions, prisoner exchanges and limited agreements to ease sanctions (against Iran) in exchange for controlling Iran’s nuclear programme,” an Omani source told Reuters.

Oman has long been an intermediary between Western powers and Iran, having brokered the release of several foreign citizens and dual nationals held by the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while the U.S. side of the negotiations – the first under Trump’s administration – was managed by his envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Tehran entered the negotiations cautiously, doubtful they could result in an agreement and distrustful of Trump, who has consistently warned of bombing Iran if it does not stop its rising uranium enrichment activities – regarded by the West as a potential route to nuclear arms.

Although both parties have touted the potential for some advancements, they continue to be significantly divided on an issue that has persisted for over twenty years, and they have not reached a consensus on whether the discussions will be in-person, as Trump insists, or indirect, as Iran prefers.

Prior to the commencement of negotiations – the inaugural discussions between Iran and a Trump administration, which includes his initial term from 2017-21 – Araqchi met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat to outline Tehran’s “main points and stances to be communicated to the U.S. side,” reported Iranian state media.