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A HIGH-STAKES diplomatic encounter between the United States and Iran resumed on Friday in Oman, with convoys carrying officials from both nations arriving at a palace on the outskirts of Muscat, signalling the start of renewed negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The discussions come months after previous rounds collapsed following Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June, which saw U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, significant damage to Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, and the decimation of its air defences.
The current talks mark a return to Oman, which has hosted past U.S.-Iran negotiations, as regional tensions remain elevated.
Associated Press journalists reported seeing a convoy believed to be transporting American officials, including vehicles displaying U.S. flags, enter the palace near Muscat International Airport. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived, meeting first with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi before proceeding to a hotel serving as the Iranian delegation’s base.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, consider Iran’s government to be at its weakest point since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, following nationwide protests that challenged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s authority.
The regime responded with a violent crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests, prompting renewed military warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The Iranians, on the other hand, are weakened after years of proxy warfare, economic crisis, and internal unrest. Trump is aware of this vulnerability and is hoping to use it to extract concessions and make inroads toward a renewed nuclear agreement,” said Alissa Pavia, a fellow at the Atlantic Council.
The U.S. has reinforced its regional military presence, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships, along with fighter jets, underscoring the potential for force if diplomacy fails. Gulf Arab nations, however, fear escalation could spark a wider regional conflict. Recent incidents, including the downing of an Iranian drone near the Lincoln and Iran’s attempt to impede a U.S.-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, have further heightened concerns.
Details regarding the scope and participants of the talks remained limited hours before the meeting, with Omani authorities restricting media access near negotiation venues. Araghchi, whose flight to Muscat originated from Tabas, Iran—the site of the failed 1980 Operation Eagle Claw hostage rescue mission—stressed on X that Iran approaches diplomacy “with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year” and that “commitments need to be honored. Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual interest are not rhetoric — they are a must and the pillars of a durable agreement.”
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Khamenei, voiced support for Araghchi, describing him as “a skilled, strategic and trustworthy negotiator at the highest levels of decision-making and military intelligence,” and assuring that Iran’s armed forces would safeguard national interests.
On the U.S. side, negotiations are expected to be led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, accompanied by Jared Kushner, who has recently been involved in trilateral discussions on Gaza, Russia, and Ukraine. Both men travelled from Abu Dhabi to Qatar prior to arriving in Oman.
While the talks officially focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, previous diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar proposed that Tehran halt uranium enrichment for three years, transfer highly enriched uranium abroad, and pledge not to deploy ballistic missiles. Iranian officials have indicated that the first two points are non-negotiable, while broader security and regional militia issues remain unresolved.
“I think in order for talks to actually lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things, and that includes the range of their ballistic missiles.
“That includes their sponsorship of terrorist organizations across the region. That includes the nuclear program, and that includes the treatment of their own people,” Rubio said.
He added, “I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we’re going to try to find out.”
The talks in Muscat represent a delicate attempt at diplomacy amid a fraught regional environment, balancing the potential for negotiation with the looming threat of military escalation. - February 6, 2026