Iran has officially announced the suspension of its indirect negotiations with the United States, citing the lack of “appropriate ground” for further discussions in light of escalating regional tensions.
The talks, which have been mediated by Oman, have stalled as both sides struggle to find common ground amid the ongoing crisis in the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking from Muscat on Monday, revealed that the talks were currently on hold due to the specific conditions in the Middle East.
“At the moment, we do not see any grounds for these talks to continue until we are able to resolve the current crisis,” Araghchi said. He added that once the situation stabilizes, Iran would decide whether and how to proceed with future discussions.
Since taking office in January 2021, US President Joe Biden has sought to negotiate a return to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Under this deal, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions imposed by the U.S., European Union, and the United Nations.
However, direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran have not materialized, with Iran preferring to engage through European and Arab intermediaries.
The deal itself faced significant challenges following the 2018 US withdrawal under then-President Donald Trump, who argued that the agreement was too favorable to Iran.
His administration reinstated stringent sanctions, leading Iran to gradually breach the nuclear limits set by the accord.
Earlier, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian had suggested that direct talks with the US could be possible if Washington demonstrated that it was no longer antagonistic toward Iran.
The current halt in dialogue has left questions over the future of US-Iran relations and the prospects of nuclear negotiations.
