US And Iran Resume Critical Nuclear Talks In Oman

The United States and Iran are set to open high-stakes negotiations in Oman over Tehran’s nuclear programme, talks widely viewed as one of the final opportunities to avert a potential new US military strike.

These discussions mark the first direct engagement since the US joined Israel in June during the final phase of a 12-day bombing campaign that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

Washington has indicated it wants the dialogue to go beyond the nuclear issue, seeking to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme, its backing of armed groups across the Middle East, and its internal human rights record. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, the talks should also address Iran’s “treatment of their own people”. However, after days of uncertainty, Iranian officials say they have secured agreement that the initial phase of negotiations will focus solely on the nuclear dispute.

The talks are taking place amid repeated warnings from Donald Trump that the US could launch military strikes from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln if progress is not achieved. The US has increased its naval presence in the region following a violent crackdown by Iranian authorities on nationwide protests last month, further escalating tensions between the two countries.

Leading Iran’s delegation is Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a veteran nuclear negotiator with more than two decades of experience. He will face off against Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Iran is seeking firm assurances that the negotiations are not being used as a cover for efforts to force regime change. The previous round of talks collapsed in June after Israel launched a surprise attack that left at least 1,000 Iranians dead and destroyed three nuclear sites.

Ahead of the meeting, Tehran rejected a US proposal to hold the talks in Turkey with the participation of foreign ministers from Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The proposed involvement of Muslim-majority states highlighted how closely regional governments view their own security as tied to any agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has warned it would respond forcefully against Israel or US military bases in the region if it comes under attack.

Tehran maintains that its right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil — a provision recognised under the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during Barack Obama’s presidency — is non-negotiable. One potential compromise under discussion would see Iran suspend uranium enrichment for a fixed period, while a regional consortium oversees enrichment as part of a broader, integrated civilian nuclear programme.

In return, Iran is expected to push for sanctions relief and a new inspection framework for its nuclear facilities. The Iranian economy has been under severe strain since the June attacks, with the rial losing half its value against the dollar and food inflation nearing 100%. These economic pressures helped spark protests in late December, which were met with a harsh security crackdown.

At one point, Trump publicly encouraged the demonstrators, saying “help is on its way”, but both the US and Israel ultimately refrained from launching attacks, citing concerns that they were not fully prepared for the scale of possible Iranian retaliation.