Iran10 February, 20263 min read
Iran Sends Top Security Official Ali Larijani To Oman After Indirect Nuclear Talks With US
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Ali Larijani, Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, arrived in Muscat, Oman. Visit follows recent indirect US-Iran talks in Oman about Iran's nuclear program.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Iran Reviews US Negotiation Proposals As Pakistan And Qatar Mediate Strait Of Hormuz Dispute →
Iran regional consultations
Iran dispatched senior security official Ali Larijani to Oman after a recent round of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iranian state media described the trip as part of regional consultations and as a direct response to discussions held in Muscat. Newsday reported Larijani was sent to carry Tehran’s response to last week’s indirect nuclear talks with the United States.
“Iran sent senior security official Ali Larijani to Oman to carry Tehran’s response to last week’s indirect nuclear talks with the United States, state media IRNA reported.”
It noted Larijani is due to meet Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, with Oman acting as mediator between Tehran and Washington. Both Amu TV and Al Jazeera portrayed the visit as part of broader, pre-planned regional engagement. Amu TV said regional consultations by officials such as Larijani were planned in advance, while Al Jazeera described his visits to Oman and then Qatar as pre-planned consultations to strengthen ties with neighbours.
Iran pushes back diplomatically
Iranian officials and state media used the occasion to push back against what they described as external pressure and to test Washington's seriousness. The foreign ministry publicly accused Israel of exaggerating Iran's nuclear intentions and urged the U.S. to resist that pressure. Amu TV reported that foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the United States was influenced by 'the Zionist entity', claimed Israel had exaggerated concerns about Iran's nuclear program, and described the recent talks as a test of U.S. seriousness while stressing Iran's continued commitment to diplomacy.
Al Jazeera similarly quoted the foreign ministry saying Baghaei urged Washington to resist Israeli pressure, repeated accusations that Israel exaggerated Iran's nuclear intentions, and described the Muscat talks as a way to gauge the other side's seriousness. Newsday focused less on rhetoric and more on the diplomatic choreography around the Muscat round and the role of mediators.
Iran nuclear negotiations
Officials gave mixed signals about substantive progress, with Iran tying possible concessions to full sanctions relief while resisting U.S. demands to give up enrichment. Amu TV and Al Jazeera report that Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said Tehran might dilute its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium if U.S. sanctions were fully lifted. Both outlets also quote Eslami saying the 60% level is close to weapons-grade and would be diluted only if all sanctions are lifted.
“Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said Tehran might dilute its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium if U.S. sanctions were fully lifted, but Iran rejects U.S. demands for a complete ban on enrichment and refuses to abandon its enrichment right.”
They add that Washington is pressing Tehran to surrender or limit the 60% stockpile, which the IAEA estimated last year at more than 440 kg. Newsday underscores Tehran’s public insistence on retaining enrichment as a core sticking point.
Diplomatic context and tensions
Background ties recent exchanges to talks that stalled last year and to strikes on Iranian nuclear sites that Tehran says disrupted enrichment. Al Jazeera reports five rounds of talks last year stalled largely over enrichment disputes. Al Jazeera also says that after reported strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Tehran says it has halted enrichment activity.
Newsday highlights recent U.S. strikes and a 12-day Iran–Israel war that disrupted earlier negotiations and heightened tensions. Newsday notes that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to raise Iran during his Washington visit.
Amu TV frames the contacts and regional visits as tests of U.S. seriousness and as part of continuing diplomacy. Amu TV notes that Larijani is due to travel to Qatar after visiting Oman.