Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Muscat on May 27 for a two-day visit aimed at bolstering bilateral ties and addressing regional stability. During meetings with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the two nations signed 18 cooperation documents, including agreements on trade, energy, defense, and technology, signaling a deepening partnership.
Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s gratitude for Oman’s role as a mediator in indirect nuclear talks with the U.S., calling it “active and constructive”.
Oman has facilitated five rounds of talks since April 2025 between Tehran and Washington, which lack formal diplomatic relations. While the latest round in Rome saw no breakthrough, both sides acknowledged limited progress. Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s demand for sanctions relief and defended its nuclear program as peaceful, stating, “We hope this process leads to positive results”. Oman’s Sultan affirmed that regional stability hinges on Iran’s success in the negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump described recent talks as “very, very good,” hinting at potential “good news” within days. However, Trump’s administration continues to pressure Iran to abandon uranium enrichment, threatening stricter sanctions or military action if talks fail. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei dismissed reports of a temporary enrichment freeze, asserting, “Iran will never accept that”.
The visit coincided with efforts to expand economic ties. Iran’s Central Bank Governor Mohammadreza Farzin arrived in Oman a day earlier to discuss banking cooperation, reflecting Tehran’s urgency to mitigate sanctions’ impact. Annual trade between the two nations stands at $2.3 billion, with new agreements targeting infrastructure projects like port development and rail connectivity.