Weekend nuclear deal between Iran and the US postponed, says Oman's foreign minister
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Planned negotiations between Iran and the United States this weekend over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme have been postponed, Oman has announced.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement in a post on the social platform X.
"For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd," he wrote. "New dates will be announced when mutually agreed."
Al-Busaidi, who has mediated the talks through three rounds so far, did not elaborate.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei issued a statement describing the talks as being "postponed at the request of Oman's foreign minister."
He said Iran remain committed to reaching "a fair and lasting agreement."
An Iranian security official in protective clothing walks through part of the Uranium Conversion Facility just outside Isfahan, 30 March, 2005
Vahid Salemi/Copyright 2019 The AP. All rights reserved.
Meanwhile, a person familiar with the US negotiators said that Washington "had never confirmed its participation" in a fourth round of talks in Rome.
However, the person said the US expected the talks to occur "in the near future."
Two other rounds of talks have been held in Muscat, the Omani capital.
The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the country.
The negotiations have been led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump threatens air strikes
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites if a deal isn't reached.
Iranian officials have warned that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, did limit Tehran's nuclear activities.
But Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions.
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A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by US air strikes in Sanaa, 27 April, 2025
AP Photo
The wider Middle East region also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the US continues an air strike campaign, called "Operation Rough Rider," that targets the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, who have long been backed by Iran.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning to Iran earlier on Thursday about their support for the militant group.
"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing," he wrote.
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"You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing."
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