Iran and US hold high-stakes talks in Oman as confrontation looms

"Oman has mediated high-stakes, indirect talks between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear programme, seen as one of the last chances to prevent a new US attack. Envoys for the two countries arrived for separate meetings with the sultanate's top diplomat, Badr al-Busaidi. The negotiations are the first since the US struck Iranian nuclear targets in June, joining in the final stages of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign."

"Washington wanted to expand the talks to cover Iran's ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region and treatment of their own people as the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said on Wednesday. But, after days of speculation, Iranian negotiators were satisfied that only the nuclear dispute would be discussed, at least initially. Oman's foreign ministry published a statement saying al-Busaidi separately met the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and then the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law."

"The consultations focused on preparing the appropriate circumstances for resuming the diplomatic and technical negotiations by ensuring the importance of these negotiations, in light of the parties' determination to ensure their success in achieving sustainable security and stability, the Omani announcement said. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (centre), and his delegation arriving to meet Omani negotiators in Muscat on Friday."

Oman mediated high-stakes, indirect talks between Iran and the US aimed at addressing Tehran's nuclear programme and averting a potential US attack. Envoys from both countries met separately with Omani foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat. The talks were the first since US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June during a wider Israeli bombing campaign. Washington sought to expand the agenda to include Iran's ballistic missiles, support for regional armed groups, and the treatment of its own people. Iranian negotiators secured agreement that initial discussions would focus only on the nuclear dispute. Omani officials said consultations prepared conditions to resume diplomatic and technical negotiations toward sustainable security and stability.

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