Iran says Russia visit reflects 'shared interests and mutual respect'

In a live televised interview on Wednesday evening, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi downplayed the significance of the venue change. “We should not waste our time on the location and timing of the talks,” he said. “We agreed to multiple changes in the location. It’s not an important issue.”

However, Gharibabadi stressed that Oman would continue to facilitate and mediate the negotiation in the Italian capital.

Oman’s role as mediator and preferred host

Oman has long served as a discreet and trusted intermediary between Tehran and Washington. Its role dates back to the early 2010s, when Muscat hosted secret backchannel talks that ultimately led to the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). The United States also sees Oman as a discreet and stable mediator with a history of hosting secret talks with Tehran.

Oman played a crucial, behind-the-scenes role in facilitating the September 2023 exchange of five American detainees in Iran, widely regarded as hostages, and several Iranians held in the US who were accused or convicted of sanctions violations. The deal, brokered with Qatar’s involvement, included the transfer of around $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to accounts in Qatar that have not been released to Iran yet.

Geographic proximity—just a two-hour flight from Tehran—and Oman’s low media profile also make it attractive to Iran. In contrast, European capitals like Vienna or Geneva pose higher risks of media exposure, diplomatic interference, and intelligence surveillance.

Additionally, holding talks in Muscat sends a domestic political signal: resistance to Western pressure, particularly from European countries aligned with Washington on contentious issues like Iran’s missile program, regional policies, and sanctions.

Tehran’s concerns over security risks in European capitals

Tehran’s reluctance to hold talks in Europe also stems from security concerns, particularly fears of espionage and surveillance. Iranian officials remain wary of cyber-espionage in European cities, where Western and Israeli intelligence agencies are believed to be more active.

They are especially concerned about the heightened risk of electronic surveillance targeting the Iranian delegation in hotels, diplomatic sites, and transportation hubs, as well as the possible interception of sensitive communications.

Cyber-espionage during JCPOA talks

In March 2015, senior US officials told the Wall Street Journal that American negotiators in the talks in Austria and Switzerland had been briefed about the threat of Israeli eavesdropping during the nuclear talks that led to the conclusion of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). There were media reports that then US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's top negotiator Mohammad-Javad Zarif took walks outside the venue of talks to discuss important issues to avoid eavesdropping.

A few days ahead of the final round of the talks in Vienna in June of the same year, the cybersecurity company Kaspersky reported finding a variant of the Stuxnet virus in the networks of three hotels that hosted the negotiations. The company’s report said infected computers could be used to control cameras, microphones, and phone systems at these hotels to spy on the talks and delegations. Symantec, another security company, confirmed Kaspersky’s findings. 

“The disastrous history of Israel spying on its allies and the incompetence of Western surveillance agencies is a major concern for the Iranian delegation,” said an article titled “What Makes the Decision on Venue of Nuclear Talks Complicated” published by Fararu on Thursday.

The article added that preventing leaks from European diplomats and shielding the process from Israeli or other cyber sabotage likely explains Tehran’s insistence on having the Omani embassy in Rome serve as the host, even if the physical location is no longer Muscat.

Dissident protests possible in European capitals

Another factor influencing Tehran’s preference is the visibility of exiled Iranian dissident groups in Europe, including the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and monarchist factions. These groups often mobilize large crowds to protest outside the venue of talks, creating negative optics and media coverage that Iranian officials find politically damaging.

Such protests are far less likely to occur in Oman, where dissident groups have limited reach and the government maintains tighter control over public demonstrations.

Former Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom Jalal Sadatian warned on Thursday that even if Tehran reaches a nuclear agreement with the United States, United Nations sanctions could still be reinstated if relations with European powers do not improve.

“Even with an agreement with the US, if our relations with Europe don’t improve, they may move toward using the snapback mechanism,” Sadatian said.

Under the 2015 nuclear accord—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—any party to the deal can trigger a restoration of UN sanctions if it believes Iran is not complying with the agreement. Once triggered, sanctions that were previously lifted automatically snap back into place after 30 days unless all five permanent members of the UN Security Council vote to extend the suspension.

Such a move could take place before key provisions of the 2015 deal expire in October.

Sadatian urged renewed talks with all original JCPOA participants—the P5+1 group including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany—warning that limiting engagement to the US alone could fuel European mistrust.

“In matters where there is a common concern—like the nuclear file—we should aim for broader negotiations that include both the US and Europe,” he said. “This would help ease suspicion on both sides and reduce tensions at the IAEA Board of Governors.”

Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami on Thursday called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to maintain neutrality and avoid language that could be exploited by adversaries of the Islamic Republic.

"Iran's longstanding expectation from the Agency is to remain impartial and behave professionally," Eslami said after meeting IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran.

He warned that IAEA reports must not be worded in a way that could be used by what he described as "ill-wishers and malicious actors against the Islamic Republic."

Eslami said Grossi agreed with the concerns and affirmed the importance of avoiding politicization.

He added that Iranian and IAEA deputy officials will meet in the coming days to discuss the details of technical cooperation and resolving outstanding issues.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Moscow on Thursday for talks with President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and regional issues, Reuters reported.

His visit coincides with a separate trip by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who landed in Moscow the same day to deliver a message from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and hold consultations with senior Russian officials.

The Kremlin described the Qatari leader’s trip as “very important,” with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the two sides would hold “serious” discussions and sign agreements.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said Thursday he held a full day of high-level discussions in Tehran with senior Iranian officials, including the country’s nuclear chief and deputy foreign minister.

“Intensive day of discussions in Tehran today with Iran’s Vice President and Head of [the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran] Mohammad Eslami, and Deputy Foreign Minister [Kazem] Gharibabadi,” Grossi wrote on X.