The United States has officially pulled Oman out of its longstanding mediation role in indirect negotiations with Iran, accusing the Gulf state of behavior that a senior US official described as “duplicitous.” The move, which landed on June 15, 2026, effectively dismantles a diplomatic back-channel that had been operating since at least April 2025.
What happened and why it matters
The accusation from Washington was blunt by diplomatic standards. A senior US official said Oman’s conduct during the mediation process closely mirrored that of “employees of the Iranians.”
Oman had been hosting rounds of indirect talks in its capital, Muscat, involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Those discussions touched on nuclear negotiations.
The Trump administration had been signaling its dissatisfaction for some time, urging Oman to distance itself from Tehran and threatening sanctions if it didn’t comply.
