Daijiworld Media Network- Tehran
Tehran, May 2: The much-anticipated fourth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States has been postponed, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. The talks, which were scheduled to take place this Saturday in Rome, have been deferred at the suggestion of Oman, the mediator facilitating the dialogue.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, addressing reporters, confirmed the delay and stated that fresh dates for the talks would be declared in due course. A statement issued by the ministry reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy and its resolve to defend what it described as the country’s "legitimate and legal" rights on the international stage.
Baghaei emphasised that Iran entered the discussions with a spirit of goodwill, adding that the Iranian negotiating team continues to uphold principled positions under international law. He said the talks aim at achieving a fair, rational, and sustainable resolution, particularly in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the removal of what Iran calls "illegal sanctions."
Earlier in the day, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming that the postponement was due to "logistical reasons." He assured that new dates would be announced following mutual agreement between the two sides.
The diplomatic development comes against the backdrop of renewed friction between Washington and Tehran. Just hours before the postponement, Iran criticised the United States for what it termed "contradictory behaviour and provocative statements" concerning the ongoing nuclear dialogue.
The United States, under President Donald Trump’s leadership in his second term, has continued its hardline stance, reiterating its opposition to Iran's nuclear enrichment programme. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, in mid-April, called for a complete dismantlement of what he labelled Iran’s "nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program" as a precondition for any final agreement.
Further fuelling tensions, the US announced new sanctions on Wednesday targeting seven entities involved in Iranian oil trade. These measures, according to the US Department of State, aim to restrict funds that allegedly support "terrorist activities and proxy groups."
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also weighed in with a stern warning to Iran over its support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. "We know exactly what you are doing," he posted on social media, cautioning Iran of consequences at "a time and place of our choosing."
President Trump, echoing the hardline rhetoric, issued a sweeping threat against international purchases of Iranian oil and petrochemical products. “Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions,” Trump warned.
Despite the escalating verbal sparring, Iran reiterated that the decision to postpone the Rome talks was initiated by Oman and reaffirmed its intention to work towards a "fair and lasting agreement."
The nuclear negotiations are part of ongoing efforts to revive a diplomatic path first laid down in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Brokered under then-US President Barack Obama, the JCPOA offered Iran relief from economic sanctions in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme. However, the US unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 under Trump’s leadership, leading to its eventual collapse.
Oman, which has emerged as a key regional mediator, has hosted three of the four planned rounds of talks. The first and third rounds were held in Muscat on April 12 and April 26 respectively, while the second took place in Rome on April 19.
The next date for resumption of talks is expected to be announced once Oman secures consensus from both parties.