US-Iran Talks Postponed Due to ‘Logistical Issues’ Amid Hegseth Social Media Threat

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi took to social media on Thursday to announce the postponement of the upcoming fourth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear discussions scheduled for this weekend. This news came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a public threat towards Iran.

Despite the tense backdrop, al-Busaidi, who has been a mediator in the prior negotiation rounds, attributed the delay to “logistical reasons” and stated that “new dates will be announced when mutually agreed upon,” without directly mentioning the U.S. threat.

According to The Associated Press:

“The postponement was requested by the Omani foreign minister,” said Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry. He emphasized Iran’s commitment to securing “a fair and lasting agreement.” Meanwhile, a source familiar with the U.S. negotiation team revealed that the U.S. “had never confirmed its participation” in the fourth round of discussions in Rome, although they anticipated that the talks would happen “in the near future.” The source requested anonymity due to the private nature of the negotiations.

During his initial term, former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, which was an arrangement put in place during the Obama administration. Upon his recent return to the White House in January, Vice President JD Vance cast a decisive tie-breaking vote confirming Hegseth, whose term as head of the Pentagon has been filled with controversies and charges of incompetence.

Hegseth, previously a host on Fox News, has faced increasing pressure to resign after he disclosed U.S. intentions to attack Yemen through multiple messages on the commercial messaging app Signal. In a late Wednesday social media post, he addressed Iran’s support for the Houthis, a Yemeni faction.

“Message to IRAN: We are aware of your DEADLY support to the Houthis,” he declared. “We are fully aware of your actions. You are well acquainted with what the U.S. Military can do—and you have been warned. You will face the REPERCUSSIONS at our chosen time and place.”

Hegseth originally posted this message from his Pentagon account and later shared it on his personal account along with a screenshot of a mid-March post from Truth Social where Trump criticized Iran and the Houthis.

Responding to Hegseth, journalist Ryan Grim humorously queried, “Is this because our jet fell off our boat?”

A $60 million U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet recently plunged into the sea from the USS Harry S. Truman after the aircraft carrier maneuvered to dodge Houthi fire, as confirmed by a U.S. official.

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky, known for his bipartisan opposition to military actions without formal war declarations, especially concerning Yemen, commented, “I support this administration, but the defense secretary does not have the constitutional authority to declare war on a sovereign nation. Any planned military strike on Iran constitutes an act of war and should be approved by Congress as stipulated in the U.S. Constitution.”

Ryan Costello, policy director of the National Iranian American Council, critiqued, “Trump came into office not lacking effective U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East, but rather an excess of threats and bombings. Where this administration has prioritized and maintained diplomatic efforts, they have seen some success. Conversely, where they have led with bombings, as the Biden administration did before them, security has deteriorated and sustainable solutions have receded.”

“If a military solution was viable in Yemen, Saudi Arabia would have achieved victory over a decade ago, and the Biden administration would have stopped the Houthis from targeting vessels in the Red Sea last year,” he continued. “Clearly, there is no military solution in Yemen, which makes it all the more perplexing that the Trump administration believes bombing the Houthis will yield success, a strategy that has repeatedly failed.”

“Secretary Hegseth’s tweets threatening Iran over its relationship with the Houthis won’t change these dynamics and risks dragging the U.S. into much more severe repercussions against a formidable adversary,” Costello emphasized. “The U.S. and Iran should address security issues through diplomacy, not threats and military escalation. This is particularly crucial concerning nuclear matters, where we urge both nations to resume talks soon. Although maintaining the momentum of these negotiations has been challenging, it is certainly not unachievable.”

“With the right commitment, these negotiations can successfully conclude, averting the dangers of a catastrophic war and the potential for Iran to develop nuclear weapons,” he added. “Additionally, the U.S. should cease its counterproductive bombing campaigns in Yemen and strive to bring all relevant parties to the negotiation table, alongside efforts to restore a cease-fire in Gaza that frees remaining hostages and addresses the severe humanitarian crisis.”