AP
Muscat (Oman), Updated At : 02:19 PM Feb 06, 2026 IST
A convoy believed to be carrying American officials arrived Friday at the site in Oman where Iran and the United States are set to hold negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The talks follow a chaotic week that briefly included plans for regional countries to participate in meetings in Türkiye. The two sides have returned to Oman, months after earlier rounds of talks broke down following Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June.
During that conflict, the US struck Iranian nuclear sites, likely destroying many centrifuges that had been enriching uranium near weapons-grade levels. Israeli strikes also damaged Iran’s air defences and targeted its ballistic missile forces.
The American convoy entered a palace on the outskirts of Muscat, near the international airport; one vehicle displayed American flags. Vehicles carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived earlier, and Iranian state television reported he met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. That Iranian convoy later moved to a hotel near the airport. The same palace hosted earlier US-Iran talks in 2025.
US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, say Iran’s theocracy is at its weakest point since the 1979 Islamic Revolution after nationwide protests last month posed the greatest challenge yet to 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Security forces’ harsh response reportedly killed thousands and led to tens of thousands of arrests, and has prompted renewed military threats from US President Donald Trump.
The US has significant forces in the region — including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, other warships and additional fighter jets — giving it the capability to strike if it chose. But it is far from certain that attacks would compel Iran to change course or topple its government.
Gulf Arab states worry an attack could spark a wider regional war. Tensions have already produced incidents: US forces shot down an Iranian drone near the Lincoln, and Iran tried to stop a US-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
