LONDON — Negotiating groups from the US and Iran are anticipated to satisfy on Friday in Oman, marking a reopening of nuclear talks following weeks of tensions and threats, as leaders in Tehran oversaw a lethal crackdown on widespread protests.
The U.S. aspect can be led by President Donald Trump’s Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, based on the White Home.
“The President has clearly been fairly clear in his calls for of the Iranian regime,” Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday throughout a press briefing. “Zero nuclear functionality is one thing he is been very express about.”
Iranian state-run media printed images and movies early on Friday of Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi within the Omani capital, the place he met together with his native counterpart.
“Iran enters diplomacy with open eyes and a gentle reminiscence of the previous yr. We interact in good religion and stand agency on our rights,” Araghchi stated on social media on Friday.
On this handout photograph launched by the Omani Ministry of Overseas Affairs on Feb. 6, 2026, U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Oman’s Overseas Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi pose for throughout a gathering in Muscat.
Omani Overseas Ministry by way of AFP by way of Getty Photographs
The talks, which had been anticipated to start at 10 a.m. native time, adopted weeks of escalating stress between the U.S. and Iran, fueled partly by huge protests which have roiled Iran.
These protests started in Tehran in late December in response to the collapse of the Iranian forex and the worsening of financial situations, after which shortly took on a political character — with crowds on the streets brazenly calling for regime change.
Iranian authorities responded by launching a brutal crackdown on protests, based on observers. At the least 6,495 protesters, together with lots of of members of the state’s safety forces, have been killed, based on the U.S.-based Human Rights Activist Information Company, an activist group. The group stated it was reviewing hundreds of different circumstances of potential deaths. ABC Information can not independently confirm these figures.
An Iranian lady walks previous an enormous nationwide flag hanging above retailers, in Tehran on Feb. 6, 2026. Iran’s international minister met together with his Omani counterpart in Muscat on Feb. 6, forward of Oman-mediated talks with the US on the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.
AFP by way of Getty Photographs
As these protests escalated in January, Trump voiced concern for the protesters, saying, “I’ve cancelled all conferences with Iranian Officers till the mindless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
Trump later in January stated a “huge Armada” was heading towards the area. He warned Tehran to make a nuclear deal, saying one other U.S. assault could be “far worse” than the U.S. strike on nuclear websites inside Iran in June of final yr.
The Iranian international minister responded by saying the nation’s navy had “their fingers on the set off.”
These tensions needed to some extent begun to thaw by final week, when Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, stated he had instructed Araghchi to pursue “truthful and equitable” talks with Washington. The White Home had sought assist from regional allies, who assisted in bringing Iran again to the negotiating desk, based on each international locations.
Araghchi stated on Friday that any commitments made between the 2 international locations “must be honored,” including, “Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual curiosity are usually not rhetoric — they’re a should and the pillars of a sturdy settlement.”
Members of the Trump administration final held a collection of nuclear talks with Iran in April and Might 2025 in Oman. A spherical of these talks deliberate for June was scuttled after Israel launched aerial strikes on Iran, an assault that the U.S. later joined.
This handout photograph from by Omani Ministry of Overseas Affairs launched on Feb. 6, 2026, exhibits Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi (L), shaking palms with Oman Overseas Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, in Muscat on Feb. 6, 2026.
Omani Ministry of Overseas Affairs by way of AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Senior U.S. officers have continued publicly voicing issues concerning the Iranian management within the days for the reason that newest spherical of talks had been introduced.
“The Iranian regime doesn’t replicate the individuals of Iran, nor their tradition rooted inside a deep historical past,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday. “I do know of no different nation the place there’s a much bigger distinction between the individuals who lead the nation and the individuals who reside there.”
The digital U.S. Embassy in Iran posted on Thursday a safety alert once more calling for all U.S. residents to depart Iran, supplied it’s secure for them to take action.
“When you can not depart, discover a safe location inside your residence or one other secure constructing,” the alert stated.
Leavitt on Thursday stated Trump was searching for a take care of Iran, however, she added, “I’d remind the Iranian regime that the President has many choices at his disposal, other than diplomacy, because the commander in chief of essentially the most highly effective navy within the historical past of the world.”
