Omans Foreign Minister Meets with US Official Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

Omani Foreign Minister Meets with US Vice President in Washington, DC

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi met with US Vice President JD Vance in Washington, DC on Friday. The meeting took place amid growing concerns over a potential US military strike on Iran.

According to the Oman News Agency, Al Busaidi stated that the nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran have achieved significant progress. The talks, which are being mediated by Oman, have focused on indirect discussions. American and Iranian officials held their latest round of negotiations in Geneva on Thursday.

The meeting with Vance centered on the ongoing negotiations, during which the US has requested Iran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure entirely, limit its arsenal of ballistic missiles, and stop supporting regional allies. In contrast, Tehran has shown flexibility regarding limitations on uranium enrichment for civilian use but has maintained a stance against discussing missile and proxy-related issues.

Al Busaidi described the meeting as productive, noting that it resulted in “creative and constructive ideas and proposals.” The meeting comes as tensions rise over a potential US military strike on Iran. US President Donald Trump has expressed support for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff, while repeatedly threatening to take military action if Iran does not accept a deal.

The US has deployed its largest military arsenal in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, which arrived in Haifa, Israel on Friday. Iran has stated that it will not initiate a war but is prepared to respond if attacked. The US has authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and Lebanon, following similar orders issued for other countries with significant interests in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera