In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat on Saturday, signaling a renewed effort to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran through dialogue and diplomacy.
According to a White House statement, Witkoff conveyed U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to resolving long-standing issues with Iran peacefully. The meeting, hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr, was also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima. The talks were described as “positive and constructive,” with the U.S. expressing gratitude to Oman for facilitating the initiative.
“Special Envoy Witkoff underscored to Dr. Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations’ differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible,” the statement noted, calling the talks a “step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.” Both sides agreed to reconvene for further discussions next Saturday.
The meeting marked the first high-level engagement between the two nations in years. Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed the talks and reported that negotiators exchanged views on critical issues such as the Iranian nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions. The talks followed a direct communication from President Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, calling for renewed negotiations.
According to IRNA, Iran has expressed willingness to give diplomacy a “genuine chance,” provided that the United States demonstrates seriousness and goodwill. The preliminary talks were seen by Tehran as a test of Washington’s intentions.
The Muscat meeting may signal a cautious but significant thaw in U.S.-Iran relations, with both sides exploring the possibility of a new diplomatic path forward amid years of heightened tensions.