MUSCAT, Oman — Indirect negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States began today in Muscat, Oman, under the mediation of the Omani government. The talks, expected to start around midday, represent a new diplomatic effort to address surging regional violence driven by Iranian support for various armed terror networks. Oman’s foreign ministry, leveraging its longstanding role as a discreet diplomatic broker, determined the venue for these sensitive negotiations.
Iran’s delegation arrived earlier in Muscat to prepare for the indirect exchanges. Both delegations are avoiding face-to-face meetings; instead, Oman’s diplomats are relaying proposals and messages between the parties. The talks come at a time of escalating military activity across the region, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and associated militias in Syria and Iraq—intensifying operations against Israel and U.S. assets.
Critical Regional Context
The Middle East remains tense following the October 7, 2023, massacre, when Hamas terrorists committed the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, slaughtering, abducting, and mutilating hundreds of Israelis. The attack triggered Operation Iron Swords, launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as Israel responded with robust self-defense to eliminate terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and deter Iranian-backed forces along its borders. Under the command of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and with continued support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s military campaign has focused on minimizing civilian harm while neutralizing armed threats.
In parallel, Iranian proxies have expanded their activities well beyond Gaza. Hezbollah frequently fires rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel, while Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea with long-range missiles and drones. Syrian and Iraqi militias, funded and trained by the IRGC, have periodically attacked both Israeli and U.S. targets. The persistence and reach of these groups illustrate Iran’s strategic objective: to destabilize moderate states and challenge Israel’s existence.
Oman’s Role as Mediator
Oman’s history as a neutral, constructive actor in the Middle East is well established. The Sultanate has hosted secret U.S.-Iran contacts for over a decade, including negotiations that led to the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Muscat’s discreet, stable environment and reputation for non-interference make it an ideal location for discussions that require maximum confidentiality amid serious security risks.
Diplomatic sources confirm that Muscat’s selection was finalized by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who has invested significant effort in preparing for this latest round. Expectations for tangible outcomes remain low, given deep-seated hostilities and recent escalations, but participants and regional observers consider these talks necessary to reduce the risk of a wider regional conflagration.
The Diplomatic Agenda
The United States, under President Donald Trump, seeks assurances that Iran will cease arming and financing terror organizations and comply with nuclear non-proliferation demands. Central to the negotiations is the regional threat posed by the IRGC and its affiliates, which operate as a cohesive network with the stated aim of undermining Israel and Western-aligned governments.
For its part, Tehran continues to press for sanctions relief and the recognition of its influence in regional affairs, while refusing to scale back its longstanding proxy campaign. Meanwhile, Israel maintains non-negotiable demands for the release of hostages abducted by Hamas in Gaza, the cessation of terror rocket attacks, and the dismantlement of hostile military infrastructure along its borders.
Context: Israel’s Defensive Operations and Hostage Crisis
Following the October 7th massacre, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has underscored the stark moral and legal distinctions between its lawful responses and the calculated terror inflicted by Iran-backed groups. IDF operations have prioritized the protection of civilians, routinely issuing evacuation notices and targeting only militant infrastructure, while Hamas, Hezbollah, and their allies continue to employ civilians as human shields, execute hostages, and broadcast atrocities for propaganda.
Hundreds of hostages—Israelis and foreign nationals—remain in the custody of Hamas terrorists, with evidence of abuse, torture, and sexual violence mounting. International organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly demanded their unconditional release. Unlike convicted terrorists held in Israeli prisons on proven charges, these hostages are innocent civilians seized in violation of international humanitarian law.
Iran’s Regional Campaign and International Implications
Iran’s ongoing drive for influence in the region is supported by sustained arms transfers to its proxies, attempts to intimidate its neighbors, cyber attacks targeting Israeli infrastructure, and continued advances in uranium enrichment. Each facet of this campaign deepens instability and undermines prospects for peace or compromise.
The United States has maintained unambiguous support for Israel’s right to self-defense and coordinated closely with regional partners such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates to counter Tehran’s destabilizing activities. Despite these efforts, Iranian-backed terror groups have succeeded in repeatedly targeting both Israeli and U.S. interests, intensifying pressure on all parties to prevent a wider conflict.
Background: The ‘Axis of Resistance’
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran’s leadership has actively sought to expand its ideological and military reach through the establishment of the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance.’ This coalition now encompasses Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq and Syria—all acting on orders from the IRGC’s Quds Force. Their operations have sparked wars in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and periodic escalations in Gaza.
Recent years have seen combined rocket and drone attacks launched into Israel; retaliatory Israeli strikes aimed at degrading terror group infrastructure; and tit-for-tat violence along the northern and southern borders. As these patterns persist, the ability of diplomatic channels—like those opened today in Muscat—to intervene grows more critical to the region’s stability.
International Reactions
Global reaction to the launch of indirect U.S.-Iran talks in Oman has been mixed but generally supportive. The European Union and United Nations have each issued statements urging all sides to seize the opportunity for dialogue, while warning that continued Iranian sponsorship of terror groups risks replaying recent violence on a greater scale. Regional states, led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have offered quiet support for Oman’s role, recognizing that unchecked escalation could quickly engulf the wider Middle East.
Conclusion
While observers and diplomats alike are wary of any substantial breakthrough, the stakes in Muscat could not be higher. With Iranian-backed proxy violence intensifying across multiple fronts, and Israel locked in a defensive war with existential consequences, diplomatic initiatives will only succeed if they are matched by clear, verifiable changes in behavior by Iran and its affiliates. Historic lessons from decades of conflict make clear that peace can only be built on security, truth, and moral clarity—not on equivalence between state self-defense and terror.
For Israel, the coming days will further underscore its resolve to defend its population, insist on the return of hostages, and resist efforts by hostile actors to blur the difference between democracies under threat and the transnational terror movements seeking their destruction. The world’s attention now turns to Oman—a crucial stage in the ongoing contest between peace and instability.
