US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet Omans Foreign Minister

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

In a meeting held on Friday in Washington, DC, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi met with US Vice President JD Vance. The two officials discussed the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, which are being mediated by Oman.

According to reports from the Oman News Agency, the talks have achieved significant progress, including “creative and constructive ideas and proposals.” The meeting focused on the indirect talks, which were held in Geneva on Thursday.

US officials have stated that they want Iran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure, 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 remains non-negotiable on missile and proxy issues.

The meeting comes as concerns grow over a potential US military strike on Iran. The US President has expressed support for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff, while repeatedly threatening to take military action if Iran does not accept a deal.

Recent developments include the arrival of the USS Gerald R Ford in the Israeli port city of Haifa, which marks the largest military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Iran has stated that it will not initiate a war but is prepared to respond if attacked, threatening to strike US bases used by forces in the region.

The US has authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and Lebanon, following similar orders issued for other countries. China, Canada, the UK, and Italy have also urged their citizens to leave Iran in recent days.

Source: Al Jazeera