Iran has announced it will not participate in the nuclear negotiations with the US, which are set to take place in Oman on Sunday. This decision comes in the aftermath of a significant Israeli airstrike aiming at Iranian nuclear and military sites.
Reports from both the Oman News Agency and Iranian national media indicate that discussions have been suspended indefinitely.
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albasaidi, described Israel’s attack as “illegal, unjust, and a serious threat to regional stability.” In a statement made on Social Platform X, he condemned the actions and called for unified support for diplomatic efforts.
In a separate statement, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed to retaliate against Israel, labeling the strike as a serious crime that would lead to a painful retribution for the “Zionist regime.”
Efforts by President Trump and his administration to finalize a deal with Tehran regarding nuclear terms have been ongoing for several weeks. The forthcoming meeting represents the sixth round of talks since April, which aim to find a replacement for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a deal from which Trump withdrew the US during his earlier presidency.
Trump expressed his belief that Iran should approach the negotiations with serious intent, despite the recent attacks from Israel. He stated, “We’ve already faced great losses, but there’s still a chance to avoid further destruction.” He urged Iran to finalize a deal before the situation worsens, suggesting that those hardliners in Iran opposing the agreement are no longer in power.
While Trump has continually stressed that any nuclear agreements must prevent Iran from enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels, Iran insists its enrichment activities are for peaceful purposes.
