Oman FM: Sixth Round of US-Iran Talks  06/12 06:17

   Iran and the United States will hold a sixth round of negotiations over 
Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's 
foreign minister said Thursday, as regional tensions have spiked in recent days.

   DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Iran and the United States will hold a 
sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program 
this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's foreign minister said Thursday, as 
regional tensions have spiked in recent days.

   The announcement by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the 
U.S. is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to 
operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for 
regional unrest.

   Meanwhile, there have been warnings that ships could be targeted in regional 
waters over the tensions.

   Al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X.

   "I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in 
Muscat this Sunday the 15th," he wrote.

   Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is 
serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now.

   There was no immediate comment from the U.S.

   Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by 
U.S. President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Middle East envoy Steve 
Witkoff. An accord could see the U.S. lift some of its crushing economic 
sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its 
enrichment of uranium.

   But a failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle 
East on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

   Iran's economy, long ailing, could enter a free fall that could worsen the 
simmering unrest at home. Israel or the U.S. might carry out long-threatened 
airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And Tehran may decide to fully 
end its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a 
bomb.

   Iran and the U.S. have held previous talks in Muscat and Rome.