Iran has confirmed reports of continuing close talks with the United States in Oman, despite tensions between the two countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations, an official Iranian media outlet reported today.

The US news website Axios reported yesterday, Friday, about talks taking place “this week” between Tehran and Washington on “how to avoid an escalation of attacks” in the Middle East.

Iran’s delegation to the United Nations confirmed “information published about close talks between Iran and the United States in Oman,” according to the official Irna news agency, which said the talks were held in the context of “a process in progress”.

Irna gave no details on the date or content of the meetings, saying they were “not the first” and “will not be the last”.

The talks are being conducted on the US side by the US president’s Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and the US envoy to Iran, Abram Paley, according to Axios, which did not know who is representing Tehran.

The talks are being mediated by officials from the Sultanate of Oman.