US message delivered via Oman: A look at Al-Busaidi’s mission in Tehran

The indirect talks between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, have faced developments after the fifth round, highlighting Washington’s fluctuations in pursuing a diplomatic path to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue more than ever.

On Saturday evening, May 31, 2025, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, announced via a post on the social media platform X the brief visit of Badr Al-Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, to Tehran.

According to Araghchi, during his short visit to Tehran, Al-Busaidi presented the US proposals, and Iran will respond appropriately based on its principles, national interests, and the rights of its people.

This is the first written proposal presented by the US negotiating team since the talks began on April 12, 2025.

The White House spokesperson, reacting to Al-Busaidi’s visit to Tehran, claimed that Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s representative for Middle East affairs, sent a detailed and acceptable proposal regarding the nuclear agreement to Iran.

The news of the Omani Foreign Minister’s trip to Iran to deliver the US written message sparked speculation.

The New York Times, in a report, outlined what it claimed were details of the US proposal to Iran for reaching a nuclear agreement, describing the message as consisting of two key components: halting enrichment and establishing a regional consortium involving several Arab countries.

Axios published a similar report, claiming that Witkoff’s letter to Iran included a US proposal to create a regional consortium, under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear programs.

Another development that occurred on Saturday, prior to the delivery of the US message to Iran, was the recurring media release of a report by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi ahead of the Board of Governors meeting—a report filled with ambiguities and claims, which prompted a response from Iran.

In a phone call with Grossi, Araghchi, while noting Iran’s ongoing cooperation with the IAEA, urged the Director General to reflect realities in a way that prevents certain parties from misusing the international organization for political purposes.

The Foreign Minister also warned that Iran would respond appropriately to any inappropriate actions by European parties at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting.

Kazem Gharib Abadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, also provided a technical, detailed, and precise response to the IAEA report.

Listing ambiguous points, inaccuracies, and political biases in the Director General’s report, Gharibabadi emphasized that the report was prepared with the political objectives of certain countries. He noted that the exploitation of Iran’s patience by some countries would lead Tehran to take proportionate decisions, with the responsibility and consequences falling on those countries.

The diplomatic marathon between Tehran and Washington continues as Iran remains focused on the issues under discussion with good faith and seriousness, avoiding media negotiations. Meanwhile, the US oscillates between contradictory stances, zigzag approaches, and media games.

Washington is attempting to let deliberate distractions overshadow the substance of the negotiations, perhaps to push forward the insistence on zero enrichment—a strategy that has already proven unsuccessful.