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US and Iran set for nuclear negotiations in Muscat
The United States and Iran have agreed to hold direct talks in Oman on Friday, following days of uncertainty over the meeting's viability. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the session would begin at 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT) in Muscat, a claim later confirmed by US officials.
Diplomatic breakthrough after last-minute push
The discussions had teetered on collapse earlier this week, with both nations locked in disputes over logistics and agenda. However, an Arab diplomat told CBS News the talks were never formally canceled, though their status remained fluid until Wednesday afternoon. According to Axios, several Arab and Muslim leaders intervened, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its threat to abandon the process. The White House ultimately agreed "to be respectful" to its allies but remained "very skeptical" about the prospects for a breakthrough.
Trump issues stark warning to Iran's leadership
President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric ahead of the talks, telling NBC News on Wednesday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "should be very worried" about potential US actions. Trump linked the negotiations to broader demands, including Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile development, and its treatment of protesters. "As you know, they're negotiating with us," he added, framing the talks as a high-stakes confrontation.
Khamenei responded on Sunday, warning that any attack on Iran would trigger a "regional war." The exchange underscores the fragile atmosphere surrounding the Muscat discussions.
US outlines non-negotiable demands
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the talks must address more than Iran's nuclear activities to yield meaningful results. Speaking at a press conference, Rubio said the agenda would need to include "their ballistic missiles, sponsorship of terrorist organizations, nuclear program, and treatment of their own people." Special envoy Steve Witkoff had initially prepared to meet Iranian officials in Turkey alongside regional partners, but the plans were disrupted by "conflicting reports" about Iran's participation.
Araghchi, however, pushed back in a CNN interview, stating Iran would only discuss its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. "President Trump said, 'no nuclear weapons,' and we fully agree with that. That could be a very good deal," he said, while dismissing other US demands as "impossible things."
Nuclear program and regional tensions in focus
Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful, a claim met with skepticism by the US and its allies. Trump, in his NBC interview, alleged Iran was "going to have a nuclear weapon within one month" before he ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during last June's 12-day conflict with Israel. The attacks, he claimed, "obliterated" Iran's uranium enrichment capacity, though he warned Tehran against attempting to rebuild.
The Israeli military also targeted Iranian nuclear sites, scientists, and missile arsenals during the war, further destabilizing the region. Trump suggested Iran had considered relocating its enrichment efforts, a move he vowed to counter with "very bad things."
Protests and crackdown add urgency to talks
The negotiations occur against the backdrop of mass anti-government protests in Iran, sparked by economic grievances and demands for political reform. Trump expressed support for demonstrators, stating, "We've had their back," while Khamenei dismissed the unrest as "sedition" orchestrated by the US and Israel.
Human rights groups report a brutal crackdown, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documenting 6,445 confirmed deaths, including 164 children. Iranian authorities acknowledge 3,117 fatalities but attribute most to "rioters." An ongoing internet blackout has hindered independent verification of casualties.
Uncertainty looms over Friday's meeting
Despite the agreement to meet, deep divisions remain. The US insists on a comprehensive deal addressing Iran's regional influence, while Tehran seeks sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions. With both sides trading threats and accusations, the outcome of Friday's talks remains far from certain.
