The first cycle of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Muscat, under the auspices of the sultanate of Oman, concluded on Saturday, April 12, on a positive note, according to statements from all parties involved. After the discussions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi and Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, exchanged pleasantries in the presence of Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Boussaïdi. This brief contact, as symbolic as it was unprecedented, marked the first direct interaction at this level between the two countries since the 2015 talks – then led by Mohammad Javad Zarif and John Kerry – that resulted in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) on Iran's nuclear program.

While the precise details of the discussions held in the Omani capital were not made public, both capitals have already agreed to meet for a second round of negotiations on April 19. Tehran simply stated in an official communiqué that the exchanges "will be held at the same level and hosted by Oman." According to the London-based news site Amwaj.media, which is well-informed about Iranian diplomatic backstage, the next meeting could, however, be held in Europe, mainly for logistical reasons, to maintain a steady pace of negotiations.

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