ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat early Friday to take part in a critical round of nuclear negotiations with the United States, amid signs of heightened regional coordination. The talks follow confirmation from the White House that while President Donald Trump “wants to see” if a deal with Iran can be struck, he has other options on the table.
Iran’s state news agency, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), reported that Araghchi was received by Omani officials at Muscat International Airport early Friday.
Shortly after his arrival, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator wrote on X that “Iran enters diplomacy with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year. We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights.”
He emphasized that “commitments need to be honored,” adding that “equal standing, mutual respect, and mutual interest are not rhetoric - they are a must and the pillars of a durable agreement.”
Hours earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on X that the diplomatic engagement was being pursued “with confidence and strength,” with the goal of achieving “a fair, mutually satisfactory, and dignified understanding regarding the nuclear file.”
Referring to the 12-day war with Israel in June, which saw US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as well as what he described as “foreign interventions” during the nationwide protests in January, Baghaei said that “the bitter experiences of the past … are clearly before us.”
Nevertheless, he stressed that Iran “bears the responsibility of not missing any opportunity to make use of diplomacy in order to secure the interests of the Iranian people and preserve peace and calm in the region.”
Baghaei also expressed appreciation for “the efforts of all friendly neighboring countries and regional states” that have played a “responsible role” in facilitating the talks, and said he hoped “the American side will also participate in this process with a sense of responsibility, realism, and seriousness.”
In the hours leading up to the talks, signs of heightened regional coordination were noteworthy.
In a statement posted on X, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Araghchi “held separate telephone conversations with his counterparts in Egypt, Oman, and Qatar, reviewing the latest regional and international developments.