The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement on nuclear verification measures, following a secret round of negotiations in Oman facilitated by British diplomats. The breakthrough, confirmed by senior White House officials on Tuesday, marks the first tangible step towards restoring the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action since its collapse in 2018.
The talks, which took place over 48 hours in Muscat, were brokered by a small team from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. British sources described the discussions as “intensive but constructive” and credited the channel with overcoming longstanding mistrust. The agreement covers enhanced access for International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and reciprocity on sanctions relief, though details remain confidential.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office issued a cautious statement welcoming the progress but warning that “significant hurdles remain”. The development underscores London’s post-Brexit ambition to act as an honest broker in multilateral crises, a role analysts say has been sharpened by the war in Ukraine.
For Tehran, the deal offers a pathway to unfreeze billions in oil revenues without full re-entry to the JCPOA. For Washington, it provides a mechanism to cap uranium enrichment at 3.67% while nuclear talks resume. Hardliners in both capitals remain opposed; Iranian state media derided the accord as a “temporary concession” to Western bullying.
The agreement is set to be formalised in a joint communique later this week, with Vienna as the expected venue for broader negotiations. European capitals have reacted with measured optimism, though Israeli officials have voiced reservations about the verification regime.