Iran says still waiting to hear when next US talks will happen

Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg News on May 5, 2025

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Iran said it’s waiting for Oman to confirm when there will be a new round of nuclear talks with the U.S., while also saying it had nothing to do with Houthi missile strikes on Israel.

Iranian and U.S. officials were set to meet in Rome for a fourth round of negotiations last weekend, with Oman continuing its intermediary role. But the discussions were called off due to “logistical reasons,” Oman said, without adding when they might take place.

The delay came amid conflicting comments from the U.S. over whether Iran should be forced to dismantle its atomic program completely, or be allowed to build nuclear power plants.

“Regarding the future of the talks, we will await Oman’s announcement,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference on Monday. “We’re confident the Omanis will inform us in due time about the continuation of the process, including timing and location.”

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News his administration was seeking the “total dismantlement” of Tehran’s nuclear program, but added he was “open to hearing” Iran’s case for seeking “civilian energy.”

“It’s a very simple deal,” Trump said. “I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon.”

Asked about Trump’s remarks, Baghaei didn’t name the U.S. president, but said contradictory statements from American officials weren’t helping.

“If the American side’s concern is that Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear bomb, then if they’re being honest, a lot of issues should already be resolved,” Baghaei said. “We’ve shown for a long time that we’re not trying to weaponize our nuclear program.”

Houthi missile

Earlier on Monday, Iran sought to distance itself from a Houthi missile strike on Israel on Sunday, which evaded Israeli air defenses and landed near Ben Gurion airport, causing some injuries.

The Yemen-based Houthis make “independent decisions,” the Iranian foreign ministry said on Telegram. The U.S. and Israel have long said Iran supplies the militants with funding and weapons.

The U.S. has been striking the Houthis every day since mid-March in a bid to stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and on Israel. Trump has said that Iran bears responsibility for the Houthis’ assaults.

“Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X.