A diplomatic dance is set to unfold in Oman this Saturday, as Iran and the United States kick off high-stakes indirect talks, with the nuclear program likely topping the agenda.

Leading the charge for Tehran will be Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff helms the American side, according to officials in the know. But don’t expect a handshake—the two delegations will be holed up in separate rooms, passing notes through an Omani mediator in a setup straight out of a Cold War playbook.

The talks, confirmed by sources familiar with the planning, mark a rare flicker of dialogue between the longtime foes, who severed formal ties after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Araghchi, a seasoned diplomat with a hand in the 2015 nuclear deal, brings Tehran’s perspective, while Witkoff, a Trump administration pick known for his pragmatic streak, carries Washington’s bid to rein in Iran’s atomic ambitions.

The mediator—likely Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi—will shuttle between the rooms, ferrying messages in a bid to bridge the chasm.

Details remain scarce, but insiders hint the discussions could test whether diplomacy can avert a collision course. Iran’s insistence on “indirect” talks clashes with U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim of direct negotiations, underscoring the trust deficit.

With Oman’s neutral turf as the stage, the world’s watching: Will this note-passing parley spark a breakthrough—or just more static in the U.S.-Iran saga? Saturday’s outcome may set the tone for what’s next.