logo
Sixth round of Iran-US nuclear talks to be held in Oman

Sixth round of Iran-US nuclear talks to be held in Oman

Iran and the US will hold a sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's foreign minister has said.
The announcement by Oman's foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the US 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.
I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th.
— Badr Albusaidi – بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) June 12, 2025
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.
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 freefall that could worsen the simmering unrest at home.
Israel or the US might carry out long-threatened air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and Tehran may decide to fully end its co-operation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Israel and Iran's escalation is unprecedented – and what it means for a teetering Middle East
Why Israel and Iran's escalation is unprecedented – and what it means for a teetering Middle East

The Independent

time11 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Why Israel and Iran's escalation is unprecedented – and what it means for a teetering Middle East

Israel 's massive overnight barrage of strikes on Iran could be the most significant attack on the country since its devastating war with Iraq in the 1980s. It pushes an already broiling Middle East - where slaughter has become a daily reality for so many - to the very edge of another regional bloody conflict. The deep concern here is that rather than this being another exchange of salvos between Israel and Iran: the arena of a remote war between two nations that lie 2,000 km apart will actually play out on the ground of all the countries in between. To explain, Israel's bombardment (that it has justified as 'pre-emptive') has apparently killed two of the most powerful military figures in the country. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard parliamentary group (IRGC), said its leader Hossein Salami as well as the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's highest-ranking army officer, were among the dead. Iranian state media reported that the strikes also took out Senior IRGC official Gholam Ali Rashid, as well as two of the country's most prominent nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. It is notable that western leaders were quick to distance themselves from Israel's operation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pointedly said that Washington's closest ally in the region took 'unilateral action against Iran'. (Although President Trump did alert the world to something on the horizon when he evacuated some personnel from embassies in the Middle East region earlier this week). 'We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio said in a statement edged with a kind of desperation. The US was expected to hold a sixth round of negotiations with Iran on Sunday in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme - talks which will likely not go ahead now. The fact Israel's attacks were 'unilateral' was again echoed by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte - who said on Friday it was 'crucial' Nato allies work to deescalate the situation. In the Middle East it feels like a collective inhalation of breath was taken. This conflict has already exploded above the skies of Jordan, which has the unhappy misfortune of being on a missile flight path. Amman said on Friday morning it has had to intercept a number of missiles and drones that entered its airspace, which is now closed. In Iraq - civilians on the ground in Baghdad told me they initially thought they were under attack as they spent a sleepless night hearing explosions. Iraqi officials worry that the 'mess' between Israel and Iran could drag in Iraq, where Iran-backed militias are among the most powerful factions operating. There are concerns that these Iraq-based but Iran-backed paramilitary groups might launch retaliatory attacks on US assets within the country, which might in turn see US counter-strikes against the country. Here in Damascus, there are similar fears of a deadly spill over - especially as Israel already said on Friday it was intercepting Iranian drones over Syria. Syria is bordered by Israel, Lebanon, Iraq and on a potential missile flight path to and from Iran. Here a nascent rebel-led administration has been desperately trying to extricate itself from regional conflicts that the ousted Iran-backed Assad regime so readily embroiled its country in. After 14 years of bloody civil war between rebels and Assad's forces backed by Iran and Russia, the Islamist fighter Ahmed al-Sharaa turned Syrian president is trying to stamp out all these paramilitary groups that ruled the country with an iron grip for so long. Many now fear that some of these elements remain in Syria and could use this moment to attack Israel and derail Syria's rebirth. Just last week Israel bombed again several positions in southern Syria after it claimed projectiles were fired from Syria into the Israel-occupied Golan (the Syrian government official response was that it is investigating the incident). Syrian analysts told me today that the main concern is that those responsible for the missiles may have been Iran-backed groups that still remain inside Syria and that Iran will use their 'elements and cells' within the country to continue attacking Israel, escalating the conflict. Syria - like Iraq - as whole will suffer if Israel chooses to retaliate against the entire country. In the unstable south-western borderlands between Syria and Israel I saw myself this week Israel positions inside Syrian territory - an action Israel justifies as necessary for its own security. Residents of the border towns like Hader told me Israeli patrols already frequently enter their villages and towns and set up temporary checkpoints. They have even detained Syrian citizens, whose fates remain unknown. Elsewhere in the Gulf there are also warnings that commercial ships could be targeted in regional waters over the tensions. Regional conflict surely scuppers any hope of ceasefire for Gaza. There, Israel's unprecedented bombardment of the tiny strip has killed tens of thousands of people - millions are on the cusp of famine and dozens of Israeli captives, held by Hamas militant group since 7 October 203 deadly attacks, are also at risk of death. It is unlikely that in these circumstances Israel and Hamas, which is backed by Iran, will engage in any talks. And so Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran has the region on a precipice. The future, whichever way you look at it, is bleak.

Global equity funds draw inflows on cooler CPI report, U.S.-China deal
Global equity funds draw inflows on cooler CPI report, U.S.-China deal

Reuters

time28 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Global equity funds draw inflows on cooler CPI report, U.S.-China deal

June 13 (Reuters) - Global equity funds attracted net inflows for the first time in four weeks in the week through June 11, driven by a benign U.S. inflation report and developments on a U.S.-China trade deal, though simmering Middle East tension tempered investor interest. Investors acquired a net $3.19 billion worth of global equity funds during the week, snapping a three-week-long string of selling, data from LSEG Lipper showed. European equity funds attracted a net $3.66 billion worth of investments, the largest for a week in three. U.S. equity fund outflows eased to a four-week low of $212 million while investors withdrew about $605 million from Asian funds. The MSCI World index (.MIWD00000PUS), opens new tab, however, slipped from record highs on Friday as conflict escalated in the Middle East after Israel launched a military strike on Iran. Equity sectoral funds were popular for a third consecutive week as investors added a net $586 million to these funds. The industrial sector drew $1.1 billion, communication services attracted $513 million while healthcare sector funds lost a net $676 million in outflows. Global bond funds witnessed net purchases for an eighth successive week, totaling $20.15 billion on a net basis. Euro-denominated bond funds saw robust inflows of $7.83 billion, the largest weekly figure since October 2020. Global short-term and high-yield bond funds also attracted $3.79 billion and $2.13 billion, respectively. Money market funds saw a net $4.39 billion worth of sales, following a hefty $109.45 billion worth of inflows the week before. Gold and precious metals commodity funds stayed in demand for the third week in a row, with a net $1.04 billion worth of purchases during the week. Emerging market bond funds gained about $1.87 billion in a seventh successive weekly inflow, while equity funds saw net buying of $889 million, data for a combined 29,674 funds showed.

What to know about Israel's major attack on Iran
What to know about Israel's major attack on Iran

The Independent

time30 minutes ago

  • The Independent

What to know about Israel's major attack on Iran

Israel launched a major attack on Iran Friday, drawing their long-running shadow war into the open conflict in a way that could spiral into a wider, more dangerous regional war. The strikes set off explosions in the capital of Tehran as Israel said it was targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Iranian state media reported that the leader of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and two top nuclear scientists had been killed, and Israel said it killed additional Revolutionary Guard members. Israel said Iran retaliated by sending over 100 drones toward Israel, most of which were intercepted. As of Friday afternoon, the military said strikes in Iran were ongoing. Israel's attack comes as tensions have escalated over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Israel sees as a threat to its existence. The Trump administration revived efforts to negotiate limits on Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. But the indirect talks between American and Iranian diplomats have hit a stalemate. The attack pushed the region into a new and uncertain phase. Here's what to know about the strikes: Israel hit nuclear sites, killed Revolutionary Guard chief Israeli leaders said the attack was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb as the country enriches uranium a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Iran long has said its program is peaceful and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed Iran was not actively building a weapon. In a video announcing the military operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes hit Iran's main enrichment site, the Natanz atomic facility, and targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists. He said that Israel had also targeted Iran's ballistic missile arsenal. Iranian state TV reported that the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and one of Iran's most important commanders, Gen. Hossein Salami, had been killed. Israel also said it killed Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Revolutionary Guard missile program, and two other senior officials as they huddled in an underground bunker. An Israeli military official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said that Israel was continuing to strike Iran but declined to say in which locations. Iranian state television and the semi-official Fars news agency both carried news of Israel striking Iran's nuclear enrichment site in Natanz. State TV also reported attacks in Shiraz and Tabriz. Iran retaliated with drones, but Israel says it deflected threat In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel. The counterattack came after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel would face 'severe punishment.' Israel's military said its air defenses had shot down most of the drones and told civilians they could leave shelters for the time being. But the military said the threat was not yet over and urged caution. It closed Israeli airspace and said it was calling up tens of thousands of soldiers to protect the country's borders. From Washington, Trump said that the U.S. had not been involved in the attack and warned Iran against retaliations against American interests in the region. Israel's air force and spy agency carried out the operation An Israeli military official said around 200 aircraft took off at the same time to conduct operations over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away in Iran, targeting air defense systems, ballistic missile manufacturing sites and missiles ready to be launched toward Israel. The official said dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missiles were destroyed. Also involved in the operation was Israel's spy agency, the Mossad. Israeli security officials said the Mossad smuggled weapons into Iran ahead of Friday's strikes that were used to target its defenses from within. Two security officials spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday to discuss the highly secretive missions. It was not possible to independently confirm their claims. The officials said a base for launching explosive drones was established inside Iran and that the drones were activated during Friday's attack to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran. They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran and positioned them near surface-to-air missile systems. They said it also deployed strike systems on vehicles. Both were activated as the attacks began in order to target Iran's defenses, the officials said. There was no official comment. Unclear how close Iran is to building a bomb Netanyahu claimed Friday that if Iran wasn't stopped, "it could produce a nuclear weapon within a very short time.' But it likely would take Iran months to build a weapon, should it choose to do so. It also hasn't proved its ability to miniaturize a bomb to be placed atop missiles. Iranian officials have openly threatened to pursue the bomb. Tensions over Iran's rapid nuclear advances and growing reserves of highly enriched uranium are surging seven years after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. For the first time in two decades, the atomic watchdog agency on Thursday censured Iran for failing to comply with nuclear nonproliferation obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. In response, Iran said that it would open a previously undisclosed enrichment site and accelerate production of 60% highly enriched uranium, which could be easily processed to the 90% level used in nuclear weapons. Iran's nuclear sites have long been a flash point Iran has two main enrichment sites, Natanz, in central Isfahan province, and Fordo, near the Shiite holy city of Qom, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Tehran. Both are designed to protect from potential airstrikes. Natanz is built underground on Iran's Central Plateau, and has been targeted several times in suspected Israeli sabotage attacks, as well as by the Stuxnet virus, believed to be an Israeli and American creation, which destroyed Iranian centrifuges. Fordo is buried deep inside mountain and protected by anti-aircraft batteries. It also hosts centrifuge cascades, but isn't as big a facility as Natanz. Both sites have been the focus of the Trump administration's recent push to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Trump said that he warned Netanyahu against launching an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities while diplomatic efforts were underway. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet his Iranian counterparts in Oman for a sixth round of negotiations to start Sunday. It wasn't clear if those talks would take place, or if the negotiations would ever resume following the strikes.

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