logo
Sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and U.S. on June 15, says Oman Foreign Minister

Sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and U.S. on June 15, says Oman Foreign Minister

The Hindu2 days ago

Iran and the United States will hold a sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme this Sunday (June 15, 2025) in Oman, the sultanate's Foreign Minister said on Thursday (June 12, 2025), as regional tensions have spiked in recent days.
The announcement by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the U.S. is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest.
Meanwhile, there have been warnings that ships could be targeted in regional waters over the tensions.
Mr. Al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X.
'I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th,' he wrote.
Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now.
There was no immediate comment from the US.
Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by US President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. An accord could see the US lift some of its crushing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its enrichment of uranium.
But a failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle East on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Iran's economy, long ailing, could enter a free fall that could worsen the simmering unrest at home. Israel or the US might carry out long-threatened airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And Tehran may decide to fully end its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb.
Iran and the U.S. have held previous talks in Muscat and Rome.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israel hits Iran nuclear site, kills its military brass, top scientists
Israel hits Iran nuclear site, kills its military brass, top scientists

Time of India

time21 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Israel hits Iran nuclear site, kills its military brass, top scientists

Representative image Iran was reeling on Friday from waves of Israeli strikes that decapitated its military chain of command and targeted a key nuclear facility, as US President Donald Trump urged Iran to strike a deal curbing its nuclear programme or risk "even more brutal" attacks. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu described the assault, which was brought about by deploying warplanes and drones smuggled into the country, as a last resort to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, which Israel views as an existential threat. Israel said the strikes were only the start of 'Operation Rising Lion'. The attacks also killed several top Iranian officials and six nuclear scientists and hit Iran's long-range missile facilities and aerial defences. As evening fell, Iranian media reported explosions on the northern and southern outskirts of Tehran and at Fordo, near the holy city of Qom, a second major nuclear site. Israel's military said it was striking Iranian missile and drone launching sites. Air defences were activated across Tehran and explosions could be heard in Isfahan, with Israel claiming it had struck the nuke site there. Iran said in retaliation "the gates of hell will open". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo On Friday night, explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as sirens sounded across Israel following what the country's military spokesman said was the firing of missiles from Iran. Iran's state news agency IRNA said hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched, shortly after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised "harsh punishment". There were no immediate reports of casualties. Friday's strikes were the first time Israel successfully hit Iran's nuke facilities, including its main enrichment facility at Natanz, which an Israeli military spokesperson said had suffered "significant damage."

Kin back home fear for safety of J&K students stranded in Iran
Kin back home fear for safety of J&K students stranded in Iran

Hindustan Times

time26 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Kin back home fear for safety of J&K students stranded in Iran

The Israeli attack over Iran has triggered panic across the student community studying in Iran and their families back in India, including J&K, with the majority of them demanding evacuation from the region. Hundreds of students of Jammu and Kashmir are studying in various universities and educational institutions of Iran and are scared after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian soil and killed several of its top military leaders, including the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami. The students said that the attack happened around 3 to 3.30 am during the night triggering chaos and panic. Tabiya Zahra, a 2nd year MBBS student from Kashmir currently studying in Tehran University, said that they were awoken by the sounds during the night which they first thought were thunder strikes. 'We were sleeping when we heard sounds like there were thunder strikes but soon there was chaos. The university authorities told us to go to the basement as these were attacks. Everybody is scared and tension is palpable,' Zahra told HT from Tehran. She said there was panic among the 40 Indian students, majority of them from Kashmir, who were staying in the dormitory she was in. She said that there were hundreds of other international students from India like them studying in various universities of Iran and they want to go home. 'Please evacuate us as soon as possible. There is tension and our families back home are also scared as there is uncertainty. There is also fear that the communication may get snapped as many SIM cards of students are not working any more,' she said. The students said that they were provided emails from the Indian embassy in Iran in which they had to provide the information of individual students. 'So far there has been no forward movement as the air spaces are closed,' she said. Badraan Jeelani, a resident of Srinagar whose sister is doing MBBS in Tehran University, said that they want safe return of their loved ones. 'They were in panic as the blasts happened close to a building near their university. We got to know about the situation at around 4 am. Everybody is worried. We are also in touch with some other parents. We want the Government of India to start some evacuation process so that our loved ones return home safely,' Jeelani said. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to the Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention for the evacuation of hundreds of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid the attacks. The association expressed its concern regarding the dire situation faced by hundreds of Kashmiri students currently studying in Iran, following the unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel. 'This volatile security environment has left thousands of Indian students, the majority of them from Kashmir valley, extremely vulnerable and exposed to immediate danger. These students had travelled to Iran to pursue professional education, particularly MBBS, due to the country's economically viable academic infrastructure. Now, they find themselves in the middle of an active military zone, fearful for their lives,' wrote Nasir Khuehami, national convener of the JKSA. According to Khuehami, there are some 1,500 students from Kashmir studying in Iran. He said many of these students are enrolled in colleges and universities that are situated close to vital military installations and strategic sites while some students are even located in cities where direct Israeli airstrikes have been reported. 'Numerous students have contacted the Indian Embassy in Tehran seeking support, relocation, or evacuation. However, they have not received any reassuring response or concrete information about what the next steps will be. They remain in a state of confusion and despair, with no clarity about evacuation plans, safety protocols, or emergency assistance,' he said. The association requested the Ministry of External Affairs to establish dedicated and responsive communication lines between Indian students in Iran and the Indian Embassy in Tehran. 'We also request the formulation and immediate preparedness of a comprehensive evacuation plan. If the situation continues to escalate or critical infrastructure comes under sustained attack, timely evacuation could be the difference between life and death,' the JKSA said. 'We hope this urgent appeal will receive your immediate and compassionate attention. The students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in Iran are our responsibility. Their safe return home must be a national priority,' it said.

Tel Aviv Thumps Tehran
Tel Aviv Thumps Tehran

Time of India

time27 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Tel Aviv Thumps Tehran

Iran is weak. Even then, oil price, trade routes are at risk Israel's stunning strikes on Iran put West Asia back on the edge. These strikes were deep into Iran, hitting nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites, and heads of its armed forces and IRGC were taken out. Tehran has vowed harsh response, but its options may be constrained today. Israel already battered its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah last year and brought on the downfall of the pro-Tehran Assad regime in Syria. Plus, Israel claims that the latest strikes involved a covert Mossad cell that operated from within Iran to take out Iranian air defence and ballistic missile launchers. This would mean Tehran's counter-intelligence network has failed on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Trump appears to be threatening more Israeli military action against Iran if Tehran doesn't do a fresh deal with Washington on its nuclear programme. US and Iran have been engaging in talks over the matter. But Washington's position that Tehran abandon its nuclear programme hasn't cut ice with the Iranian regime. But if the strikes were meant to be a harsh message to the Ayatollahs, they may end up having the opposite effect – Tehran could accelerate a nuclear weapons programme and quit NPT. That in turn would increase tensions with the Gulf Arab states, and the Saudis may push their case for a nuclear programme. The impact of all this on energy prices could be acute. Price of crude has already leapt by 9% and could head further north. Supply chains may again take a hit given important sea lanes in the region. Not to forget undersea cables that could be targeted or weaponised. For India too things get complicated. Iran provides our potential alternative trade route to Afghanistan via Chabahar port. The same route links up to International North-South Transport Corridor for Central Asia. But prolonged chaos in the region puts all of this under a cloud. An escalatory military conflict between Tel Aviv and Tehran is not in the world's interest. But Netanyahu, the Ayatollahs and Trump may have other ideas. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store