WANA (Apr 26) – The third round of indirect negotiations between the Iranian and U.S. delegations, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman in the country’s capital, concluded a few minutes ago as scheduled.

 

The third round of indirect talks, which had started earlier today, has now come to an end. Negotiations have moved into more detailed discussions, and the delegations are returning home for consultations.

 

This latest round, chaired by Iran’s Foreign Minister and the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, began earlier today, April 26, in Muscat, with Oman’s Foreign Minister acting as mediator.

 

As in the previous two rounds held in Oman and Italy, the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation was headed by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Representative for Middle East Affairs.

 

According to Iran’s diplomatic apparatus, this third round also included expert-level and technical discussions. The Iranian expert team was led by Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, and Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs. The American expert team was led by Michael Anton, who previously served as the spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council during the first Trump administration.

 

The next round of talks is scheduled to continue next Saturday, with a high-level meeting tentatively set for May 3.

 

Commenting on today’s session, the Omani Foreign Minister stated: “Today’s discussions emphasized a shared willingness to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and lasting commitments. Core principles, goals, and technical concerns were addressed. Talks will resume next week, with a high-level meeting tentatively set for May 3.”

The second round of indirect Iran-U.S. talks had taken place last Saturday (April 19) in Rome, Italy. After its conclusion, Seyed Abbas Araghchi told reporters, “Once again, it was a productive meeting. I can say that the negotiations are moving forward. This time, we managed to reach a better understanding on several principles and objectives, and it was agreed to continue negotiations and move to the next stage.”

 

These confidential talks aim to ease tensions and explore pathways toward a potential agreement, with a primary focus on nuclear issues, sanctions, and regional security.

 

Oman is playing a crucial role by relaying messages between the Iranian and American delegations, providing a secure and indirect channel of communication. This method, used in previous negotiations, helps create a less confrontational atmosphere for dialogue.

 

Despite major differences over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, and missile activities, analysts believe that both Tehran and Washington are under pressure to find even a temporary agreement. Economic challenges in Iran and domestic political pressures in the United States could push both sides toward compromise, although the road ahead remains challenging and uncertain.