Talks Under Tension: How The US-Iran Meeting In Oman Unfolded And What Comes Next

Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 09:59 IST

Meeting for the first time since last year’s war, the US and Iran held indirect talks in Oman, agreeing to hold follow-on discussions after consultations with their capitals.

The United States and Iran on Friday concluded indirect, high-stakes talks in Oman, the first such contact since last year’s Iran–Israel war and amid a major American military build-up in the region.

While both sides described the talks as substantive enough to warrant follow-on discussions, they also underscored deep mistrust, unresolved disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and rising fears that miscalculation could trigger a wider conflict.

The talks in Muscat unfolded against a tense backdrop. The US has moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships close to Iran, days after American forces shot down an Iranian drone near the carrier group and Iran attempted to stop a US-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has also warned of “steep" consequences if Tehran refuses to make a nuclear deal or uses lethal force against protestors, while Iran insists that dialogue can only continue in an atmosphere free of threats and pressure.

These dynamics have revived longstanding anxieties among Gulf Arab states that any clash could rapidly spiral into a regional war.

Against this setting, delegations from both countries met in Oman for their first round of indirect talks since last summer.

Who Was At The Table?

The delegations were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also participating. The Omani foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, mediated the indirect format, meeting each side separately and relaying messages.

For the first time, the US brought its top military commander in the region to the talks. Admiral Brad Cooper, who heads US Central Command, attended in his dress uniform. His presence underscored the military pressure surrounding the discussions, which take place as American naval forces operate just off Iran’s coast.

Oman, which has facilitated several rounds of US–Iran diplomacy over the years, said Friday’s meetings were “useful to clarify both the Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress." Araghchi described the engagement as taking place over multiple rounds, focused on outlining a framework for continued negotiations.

What Was Discussed?

The scope of the talks remained limited and, at times, opaque. Iranian officials emphasised that Tehran sought to discuss only nuclear-related issues, insisting that topics such as ballistic missiles, its regional proxies and domestic unrest were off-limits. The US position heading into the meeting was broader, calling for all of these matters to be included.

According to Iranian media, Araghchi presented a “preliminary plan" to manage the current situation and advance negotiations. Albusaidi conveyed this plan to the US delegation, and the American response is expected to be passed back to Tehran during the follow-on consultations both sides have agreed to hold.

Long-standing disputes over the nuclear file remain central. Iran has maintained its demand to continue enriching uranium; the US and its allies reject high-level enrichment, given that uranium purified to 60 per cent — a level Iran reached before last year’s war — is technically a short step away from weapons-grade. Iran has said it would accept checks to ensure its programme is not weaponised, provided sanctions are lifted.

At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been seeking access to Iranian sites struck during last year’s 12-day Iran–Israel war. Iran has restricted inspections since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.

It also remains unclear what terms Iran would accept in any future agreement. An Al Jazeera report suggested that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar had floated a proposal for Iran to halt enrichment for three years, send its highly enriched uranium abroad and pledge not to initiate the use of ballistic missiles. Iran has previously said ending enrichment or exporting its stockpile are non-starters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week, “I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we’re going to try to find out."

What Each Side Said After The Talks

Trump described the meetings as “very good," adding that “more were planned for early next week." He also kept up pressure on Iran, saying that if it did not make a deal over its nuclear programme, “the consequences are very steep." Earlier, he had said Iran “should be very worried" as both sides prepared for the Oman round.

Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance that diplomacy requires calm. “We did note that nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats," he told journalists, adding, “The prerequisite for any dialogue is refraining from threats and pressure. We stated this point explicitly today as well, and we expect it to be observed so that the possibility of continuing the talks exists."

Speaking later on state television, he said mistrust built up over the past year posed a “serious challenge" and that Tehran would consult its capital on next steps.

Despite highlighting productive discussions, Trump said a “big fleet" would soon arrive in the region. “We have a big fleet heading in that direction, gonna be there pretty soon. So we’ll see how that works out," he said.

Oman stressed that the meetings were meant to find “the requisite foundations for the resumption of both diplomatic and technical negotiations," rather than a step toward reaching a nuclear deal or easing tensions.

The Military And Regional Backdrop

Tensions have been rising steadily. Iran has warned that any future US attack would not be met with the restraint it showed last summer. Tehran has demonstrated missile and drone capabilities, and it has a network of regional proxies capable of targeting US and Israeli assets. When American bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities last year, Iran launched an unprecedented missile strike on al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the region.

Regional governments have been pressing for de-escalation, fearing that a war between the US and Iran would quickly spread across West Asia and endanger critical shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

“Overshadowing this is a very serious threat of military attack (on Iran) and war," Negar Mortazavi," an Iranian-American journalist and political analyst, told CNN’s Eleni Giokos

Sanctions Tighten

Shortly after the talks ended, Washington imposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector. The measures apply to 14 oil tankers allegedly involved in sanction evasion as part of a “shadow fleet," 15 trading firms and two business executives.

“Time and time again, the Iranian government has prioritised its destabilising behaviour over the safety and security of its own citizens," the State Department said, adding that the US would continue acting against shippers and traders linked to Iranian crude and petrochemical sales.

In the past month, Washington had already sanctioned senior Iranian officials, including the interior minister and members of the Supreme National Security Council, over the deadly crackdown on recent protests.

Trump also signed an executive order targeting the Iranian regime, creating a framework to impose tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran, the White House announced on Saturday.

In a post on X, the White House wrote, “President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order confronting the Iranian regime, establishing a process to impose tariffs on countries that continue purchasing goods or services from Iran. Protecting America’s national security, foreign policy, and economy. (sic)"

The order could impose a 25 per cent tariff on nations that maintain business ties with Iran, news agency Reuters reported.

What’s Next?

Both sides are returning to their capitals for consultations, and Oman will continue mediating. Araghchi said the outcomes would be conveyed to Oman’s foreign minister, while CNN reported that American and Iranian delegations have agreed to hold follow-on discussions.

For now, the talks have reset the process to a preliminary stage: identifying whether and how the US and Iran can move toward a framework for negotiations on the nuclear issue, even as military movements, sanctions pressure and deep mutual suspicion continue to shape the landscape.

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