Moscow, April 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said have held high-level talks focusing on the Iran-US nuclear negotiations, with Oman continuing its mediation efforts in the standoff.

According to the Kremlin, the diplomatic momentum around reviving talks between Iran and the United States has accelerated, and Oman has taken an active role in facilitating discussions. The Kremlin confirmed that this issue was a central point in the meeting between Putin and the Omani leader.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “This issue has been raised by Oman in the context of mediation efforts, in which the Kremlin is also interested.”

Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin foreign policy official, added that both leaders discussed ongoing negotiations between US and Iranian officials. “We will see what the results are. We will maintain close contact with our Iranian colleagues. Wherever we can, we will help,” he said following a meeting with Oman’s foreign minister.

The backdrop of the meeting includes rising tensions as US President Donald Trump continues to press Iran for a new nuclear deal, threatening military action if Iran refuses to comply. Iran, however, has rejected the US accusations that its nuclear program is weapon-focused and has refused to negotiate under threats.

Earlier this year, Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership agreement, strengthening ties. The Kremlin has been keen to leverage its role as a signatory of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to play a balancing role in the region, especially after Trump’s first-term decision in 2018 to withdraw from the accord and impose severe sanctions on Iran.

Russia has repeatedly warned the United States that military action against Iran would be illegal and could destabilize the region further.

Meanwhile, Russian and Omani media reported that the meeting also included discussions about energy cooperation, with Russian companies showing interest in expanding their presence in Oman.

As diplomatic maneuvers intensify, Moscow is positioning itself as both a mediator and a strategic partner, keeping a close watch on the shifting dynamics between Washington and Tehran.