Oslo Forum: Arab, Iranian foreign ministers to meet in Norway; likely to address regional conflicts amidst global tensions

Norway on Tuesday announced that the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Oman are set to gather this week for the Oslo forum, an annual international peace dialogue.The meeting will be held behind closed doors in Lorenskog some 15 kilometres outside the Norwegian capital.Among those attending are Iran’s foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi, Syria’s Asaad al-Shaibani, Saudi Arabia’s prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty, and Oman’s Badr Albusaidi.In a statement, Norway’s foreign ministry highlighted the significance of the forum, taking place “amidst widespread global conflict, intensifying geopolitical rivalries, and shifting alliances among major powers.”The statement added that discussions would cover ceasefire initiatives, backchannel diplomacy, and broader peacebuilding strategies in a rapidly changing global political landscape.Separately, both Iranian and American officials have confirmed that a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme is scheduled for Sunday in Muscat, Oman. However, according to a report by Axios citing a US official, these talks might instead be held as early as Friday in Oslo, though Norwegian authorities have not confirmed this.

The Oslo Forum is expected to host several other senior representatives from the Middle East, including officials from Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey, as part of ongoing international efforts to address regional and global security challenges.