Washington, April 15, 2025 — US President Donald Trump has expressed gratitude to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman for facilitating the first direct nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to the White House.
Trump thanked the Omani leader for hosting the high-stakes dialogue aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the two leaders also addressed Washington’s ongoing military operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, emphasizing that Houthi forces would face “severe consequences” unless they cease their Red Sea attacks on global maritime traffic.
The phone call follows the conclusion of the initial round of US-Iran talks in Muscat, where both delegations agreed to reconvene on Saturday for further negotiations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Muscat will once again host the second round.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated since Trump’s return to the White House in January, making these negotiations particularly significant. Representing the US side is Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, while Iran’s delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Speaking on Monday, Trump characterized the negotiations as “almost easy,” urging Iran to act swiftly to avoid repercussions. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon — that’s non-negotiable. If we need to take harsh measures, we will,” Trump warned, adding that Iran is “fairly close” to nuclear capability.
The Muscat talks are the first direct engagement between the US and Iran since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in 2018, reimposing strict sanctions under a “maximum pressure” campaign that failed to bring Tehran back to the table during his first term.
While Iran initially upheld its commitments under the JCPOA, it gradually scaled back compliance after Washington’s exit, citing lack of support from other signatories. The renewed dialogue now marks a potential turning point in US-Iran relations and the wider regional security landscape.
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