On Friday, February 6th, the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Oman in an attempt to resolve the serious disagreements between the two countries regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The talks, facilitated by Oman, have concluded with both sides expressing their willingness to continue negotiations.
The negotiations took place in the Omani capital of Muscat. The Iranian delegation was led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while the U.S. delegation was headed by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Trump.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi described the U.S.-Iran talks as “very serious” and highlighted that the discussions helped both sides clarify their positions and identify areas where progress could be made.
Albusaidi stated on social media that plans are in place to hold further talks at the appropriate time, during which the U.S. and Iran will seriously consider the outcomes of the negotiations.
Both delegations also separately met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Albusaidi on Friday.
Iran’s official news agency Tasnim reported that the two countries agreed to “resume talks at a later date,” without specifying a timeframe.
During the talks, the Iranian and U.S. delegations conveyed their respective viewpoints, considerations, and proposals through Oman’s Foreign Minister Albusaidi.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi remarked that the high-risk nuclear negotiations held in Oman on Friday marked a positive beginning and will continue. He added that officials from both sides will return to their countries for consultations, emphasizing the need to break down the “wall of mistrust.” The coordination of the next steps will be determined by each country.
These talks come at a time when the U.S. is conducting a significant military buildup in the Middle East. While both sides have indicated a willingness to re-engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the long-standing nuclear dispute between Iran and the West, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated on Wednesday that substantial progress in the talks must cover certain aspects. These include Iran’s ballistic missile range, its support for regional terrorist organizations, its nuclear program, and its treatment of its own people.
Iran, on the other hand, disagrees with discussing missile issues and prefers to focus the discussions solely on the nuclear problem.
A video released by Oman’s official news agency showed that the U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper also attended the U.S.-Iran negotiations.
According to Iran’s official media outlet IRNA, Foreign Minister Araqchi presented a “preliminary plan” to Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi aiming to “control the current situation between Iran and the U.S.” and advance the negotiations. Albusaidi subsequently passed the plan to the American delegation, who will respond to the Iranians during the talks.
The White House reminded Iran the day before the U.S.-Iran negotiations that, apart from diplomatic means, President Trump had various other options available.