What’s Behind America’s Message to Iran via Oman?
WANA (Nov 02) – At a time when Washington is seeking to redefine its policy of containing Iran, the news of Majid Takht-Ravanchi — Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs — traveling to Oman has grabbed headlines. The visit was officially part of bilateral consultations, yet in practice it once again drew attention to Oman’s discreet role as mediator between Tehran and Washington.
On the surface, Takht-Ravanchi’s trip was a continuation of ongoing strategic talks between the two countries. In reality, however, it came at a critical regional moment — just as media outlets reported that the United States had sent a message to Iran through Oman, allegedly signed by President Donald Trump himself.
According to the Iraqi outlet Baghdad Al-Youm, “a message from Donald Trump was delivered to Iran through Oman,” regarding the possible resumption of nuclear talks that had been stalled since June.
An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of Iran, Oman and U.S. Flags, is seen in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Within hours, an informed source in Tehran dismissed the report as “false.” Yet later, government spokesperson Mohajerani told reporters: “The Foreign Ministry has received messages about resuming negotiations; I will provide more details about their nature at an appropriate time.”
That brief statement was enough to send the media into a frenzy, trying to decode the hidden meaning behind the visit.
The truth is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never abandoned diplomacy. However, in the current global context, Tehran is determined to write the rules of engagement on its own terms. As Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi emphasized: “We have never walked away from diplomacy. If the Americans are ready to talk on an equal footing, we are prepared for a balanced agreement based on mutual respect.”
Iran’s FM: Negotiations Must Be Fair, Not Dictated
WANA (Oct 30) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday stressed that any negotiations with other countries must be fair and based on mutual interests, not dictated by external powers. Speaking at the Economic Diplomacy Summit in Tabriz (the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran), Araghchi highlighted the strategic role […]
This position illustrates that despite Tehran’s deep distrust toward Washington, it continues to keep the diplomatic door open within its framework of strategic rationality. A U.S. return to the negotiating table — if it comes without changing its sanctions and coercive behavior — would serve only as a tool for managing Washington’s domestic pressures, not as a genuine opportunity for lasting understanding.
Tehran’s response strategy has been crafted to neither confirm nor deny anything. While the government spokesperson acknowledged receiving messages, the Foreign Ministry has stressed that any dialogue must be grounded in mutual respect — a message directed as much to Washington as to its European allies. In essence, Iran wants to show that if negotiations occur, they will come from a position of choice, not necessity.
An Iranian woman walks past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, October 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Oman: The Neutral Ground
Oman’s role in Iran–U.S. relations goes back at least two decades — from mediating the release of dual-national detainees to hosting the secret talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). Muscat has repeatedly proven to be both trustworthy for Tehran and approachable for Washington.
Takht-Ravanchi’s meetings with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen appeared to focus on regional developments. Yet the timing, participants, and sensitivity of the moment suggest that Oman is once again acting as a “diplomatic postman” between Tehran and Washington.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi met with Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister. Social media/ WANA News Agency
What Does Iran Want?
Amid growing ambiguity, the key question is: what are Iran’s real concerns?
Currently, Tehran faces pressure on three fronts:
- The possible activation of the “snapback mechanism” at the UN Security Council;
- Political pressure from Europe on its nuclear file;
- Washington’s return to implicit threats and intensified sanctions.
Under such conditions, Muscat represents not only a regional partner but also a safety valve for Tehran in navigating international deadlocks. Through Oman, Iran can both convey its messages to Washington and calibrate its positions on regional crises — from Yemen to Gaza.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: Negotiations with the U.S. Government Bring No Benefit to Us
WANA (Sep 23) – In a televised address to the Iranian nation, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated: Under current circumstances, negotiations with the U.S. government bring no benefit to us, nor will they avert any harm from us. Ayatollah Khamenei, in his televised address to the people, spoke about the unity […]
But did a message from Trump actually reach Tehran?
Farhikhtegan, a conservative Iranian newspaper, argued that the purpose of such reports is to “revive the burnt-out card of negotiations” and create psychological dependency in Iran’s markets, so that any pause in talks triggers economic anxiety — effectively turning sanctions into a tool of permanent psychological pressure.
Meanwhile, other analysts see this as the start of a new psychological campaign by Washington to test the flexibility of Iran’s new administration — the same strategy previously pursued through “limited sanctions relief offers” via Oman.
Tehran’s current stance shows it is no longer seeking “de-escalation at any cost.” The new Iranian diplomatic approach is rooted in Eastern multilateralism — meaning that Muscat is just one active channel, not the only one. Recent meetings between Iranian officials and their Chinese and Russian counterparts, as well as security talks with Baghdad and Beirut, and renewed engagement with eastern neighbors such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, all indicate Iran’s effort to build a “new regional security architecture” — one in which Washington no longer plays a central role.
The U.S and Israeli flags are seen at the former United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran, October 14, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Takht-Ravanchi’s trip to Muscat may appear routine, but beneath the surface it marks a shift in the level of engagement.
If Trump’s message truly exists, Iran is likely to respond — not with words — but through the choreography of its diplomatic behavior in the coming weeks.
Muscat remains the same neutral and reliable ground it has always been. Yet this time, the message crossing its borders might not be about negotiations, but about redefining the balance of power in the Persian Gulf.
