Oman has brokered a potential breakthrough in nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Tehran agreeing to forgo stockpiling enriched uranium, according to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi. The concession, revealed Friday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” would address a key concern of the international community and significantly reduce the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
Albusaidi stated that Iran would “give it up,” referring to its enriched uranium stockpile, and instead “blend to the lowest level possible… and converted into fuel, and that fuel will be irreversible.” He further asserted that an agreement had been reached on “full and comprehensive verification” by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with potential access for U.S. Inspectors should a deal be finalized.
The proposed agreement represents a departure from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew in 2018. The original deal limited Iran’s enrichment activities and established inspection protocols, but did not eliminate the stockpile of enriched uranium entirely.
The Omani Foreign Minister’s comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and substance of the negotiations. Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump stated that Iran was “not willing to give us what we have to have,” reiterating his demand that Iran permanently halt all uranium enrichment. Albusaidi acknowledged he was unsure what Trump meant by his statement.
Indirect talks between the U.S. And Iran, mediated by Oman, concluded Thursday in Geneva, with both sides acknowledging “good progress” on some issues, but no immediate deal. According to a report from The Guardian, the U.S. Is demanding permanent guarantees on uranium enrichment and inspection mechanisms to prevent Iran from ever building a nuclear weapon, a goal Iran continues to deny pursuing.
Albusaidi met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Washington, D.C. On Friday to discuss the status of the negotiations. He expressed hope that the agreement would be sufficient to dissuade the U.S. From military action against Iran, as tensions in the Middle East remain high. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the Israeli port city of Haifa on Friday, according to Israeli Channel 12, signaling a significant U.S. Military presence in the region.
While Albusaidi characterized the discussions as yielding “creative and constructive ideas and proposals,” the White House deferred to Trump’s public comments on the matter. The State Department has yet to issue a statement regarding the Omani Foreign Minister’s claims. The next round of technical-level negotiations is scheduled to take place in Vienna next week, according to reports.
