Moscow, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman met in Moscow to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin confirmed Tuesday, as diplomatic efforts to revive U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations gather momentum.

Oman has been playing a key mediating role in ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington, aiming to secure a new deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, a move that led Iran to breach its commitments a year later. The Biden administration has shown interest in reviving the deal, though tensions remain high.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the nuclear issue was discussed “in the context of Oman’s mediation efforts.” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed both sides reviewed progress in the indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations and highlighted Russia’s close consultations with Tehran.

“We will see what the result will be. We maintain close contact with our Iranian colleagues. Where we can, we help,” Ushakov said.

Trump has issued threats of military action against Iran if an agreement is not reached — a move that both Iran and Russia have strongly opposed. Tehran has made clear that negotiations cannot proceed under the threat of bombardment. Moscow, a signatory to the original 2015 deal, has warned that any U.S. strike on Iran would be illegal under international law.

Beyond the nuclear issue, Putin used the occasion to promote greater energy and economic ties between Russia and Oman, and announced plans to host a Russia-Arab League summit later this year.

“Many of our friends in the Arab world support this idea,” Putin told Sultan Haitham, extending a formal invitation to the event, though no date or location has been confirmed.

This visit follows a similar meeting between Putin and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with discussions focused on the war in Syria and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Gulf states, including Oman and Qatar, are increasingly playing central roles as global mediators.

Meanwhile, Iran and the U.S. are scheduled to meet for a third round of nuclear negotiations in Oman this Saturday. In a related development, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to China on April 23 to strengthen ties and discuss key international issues with Chinese officials.

China, alongside Russia, was part of the original P5+1 group that brokered the 2015 nuclear deal, and continues to support diplomacy as the best path forward.

During a recent visit to Moscow, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s reliance on strong partnerships with Russia and China in navigating complex nuclear diplomacy.