Oman’s foreign minister said on Feb. 27 that recent negotiations with Iran had produced a possible breakthrough regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. Speaking during an interview on CBS in Washington, the minister said Iranian officials had agreed in principle to several measures aimed at preventing the development of nuclear weapons while allowing continued civilian nuclear activity. According to the proposal, Iran would eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium, allow full monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and convert existing nuclear material into reactor fuel. The plan would also include irreversible steps to ensure that the material could not be used for weapons purposes while still permitting international inspectors to verify compliance.
“This is something completely new,” the minister said, explaining that without the ability to stockpile enriched uranium, Iran would not be able to produce a nuclear bomb. However, the same day Oman announced the reported diplomatic progress, the IAEA circulated a confidential report raising concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. The agency said it could not verify the exact size, composition, or location of certain undeclared nuclear materials. Inspectors also reported a “loss of continuity of knowledge” about Iran’s nuclear inventory after access to several facilities had been restricted for months.
Analysts reviewing intelligence assessments and satellite imagery have also suggested that Iran continued advancing elements of its nuclear program while negotiations were underway. Reports indicated that Tehran may have concealed parts of its activities from inspectors while expanding hardened underground facilities linked to the program. Separately, reports said several Iranian nuclear sites were targeted during military strikes in early 2026 as part of the ongoing U.S.–Israeli campaign aimed at disrupting Iran’s remaining pathways to nuclear weapons development.
