A negotiation is unfolding quietly in Muscat, and it may define the next chapter of the Middle East, or simply postpone the next crisis.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Ambassador Dennis Ross, Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, and one of the most experienced American diplomats of the modern era, about what is really happening beneath the surface of the U.S.–Iran talks.

Ross lays out the core clash: Washington’s push for zero enrichment; Tehran’s insistence that enrichment stays. He explains why public messaging may not match private positions, how deadlines and force posture shape the room, and what could trigger unintended escalation even if neither side wants a long war.

We also look beyond the nuclear file, because sanctions relief is never just technical. It touches missiles, proxies, regional stability, and the credibility of deterrence itself.

The key question: is Muscat a bridge to a framework, or simply a holding pattern until something breaks?