Tensions are escalating ahead of a pivotal April 12, 2025 meeting in Oman between the United States and Iran with both sides at odds over the nature of their nuclear negotiations.

White House claims discussions will be direct while Tehran firmly demands they remain indirect citing distrust in President Donald Trump’s unpredictable policies. This disagreement reflects not just procedural rift but a deeper history of betrayal and hostility that continues to shape their fraught relationship.

US under Trump’s leadership, has intensified its “maximum pressure” campaign, piling on sanctions and issuing veiled threats of military action to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran faces scrutiny from United Nations over its uranium enrichment which has neared weapons-grade levels though Tehran insists its program for peaceful purposes. Standoff has global markets and diplomats on edge with fears that failure in Oman could ignite a broader conflict.

On April 7, during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced that “direct talks” with Iran had begun, teasing a “big meeting” on Saturday. “We’ll see what happens,” he said, emphasizing his goal to block Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Yet, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi swiftly countered, stating on April 8 that talks would be “indirect” through Omani mediators. “As long as maximum pressure and threats persist, fair dialogue impossible,” Araghchi said, accusing US of contradictory behavior.

Iran’s reluctance stems from past wounds. Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from 2015 nuclear deal. Which had eased sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities, shattered Tehran’s faith in US commitments. Since then crippling sanctions have battered Iran’s economy fueling resentment.

A March 7 letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing nuclear talks met with skepticism. Tehran’s response, delivered via Oman, rejected direct engagement but left the door open for mediated discussions.

White House has remained cagey on specifics. Spokesperson Caroline Levitch, fielding questions on April 8, sidestepped details, saying only that Trump had confirmed direct talks.

Analysts see this as tactic to project strength while Iran’s insistence on indirect talks signals a bid to avoid being cornered by Trump’s erratic diplomacy. “Iran knows Trump’s promises can vanish overnight,” one observer noted. “They’re playing it safe.”

Read more: US Stock Market Crashes Amid Global Trade War Fears: Trump’s Tariffs Spark Economic Chaos

History offers little comfort. US-Iran talks have rarely resolved tensions smoothly, often birthing new crises instead. Oman meeting is more than a negotiation—it’s a test of whether diplomacy can survive amid mutual suspicion. With global powers watching, the outcome could either pave a cautious path forward or fan the flames of confrontation. Leaving the world bracing for what lies beyond the diplomatic fog.