US Sends Envoy To Oman To Begin Direct Nuclear Talks With Iran After Threatening Military Action

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat, Oman, on Feb. 6 to begin direct talks aimed at restarting diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“Analysts say US strategy unclear as Trump officials insist on including ballistic missiles, regional ‘proxies’ in talks”

Al Jazeera

Multiple reports described the encounter as Oman-mediated and confirmed the presence of U.S. and Iranian delegations.

Al Jazeera

News outlets such as Coast FM, This is the Coast, and DW reported the meeting and cited the involvement of Witkoff and Araghchi.

Other outlets, including NewsBytes, noted that Iran’s foreign minister confirmed the talks.

A central obstacle at the opening is disagreement over the agenda's scope.

Washington has pushed to expand talks beyond nuclear limits to include Iran’s ballistic‑missile programme, its support for regional armed groups and human‑rights issues.

AL-Monitor

Several outlets report the U.S. delegation pressing this broader agenda; Island.lk says the US demands Iran freeze its nuclear programme, give up enriched uranium stockpiles, and include Iran’s ballistic missiles, regional support for armed groups, and human‑rights issues in talks.

Al Jazeera calls the administration’s stance broad and 'maximalist', saying it would go beyond nuclear issues to include limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and an end to support for regional 'proxies'.

Iran, by contrast, says discussions will be limited to its nuclear programme and has ruled out discussing its defensive missile capabilities (coastfm.co.uk).

The diplomatic push unfolded against a backdrop of heightened military posturing and explicit threats.

“WASHINGTON/ISTANBUL Recent demonstrations in Iran and evolving negotiations between Tehran and Washington reflect a complex dynamic in which both sides are preparing for potential confrontation while simultaneously seeking to avoid war, according to Middle East analyst and academic Vali Nasr”

Anadolu Ajansı

Reporting noted that President Trump dispatched a large naval force — the US Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which some outlets described as an 'armada' — and warned Iran it could face military action.

White House spokespeople said the president had options 'aside from diplomacy.'

Island.lk reported that President Trump had threatened military action and sent a large US force to the region, which the outlet described as an 'armada'.

eNCA quoted Trump saying Iran is 'negotiating' and 'doesn't want us to hit them.'

DW noted that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed the president has options beyond diplomacy.

Coastfm.co.uk also noted the US had repeatedly threatened military action and was boosting U.S. naval forces near Iran, which some outlets called an 'armada'.

Domestic unrest inside Iran adds urgency and leverage to talks.

Numerous outlets cite large, ongoing protests and heavy security crackdowns with differing casualty figures.

AP News

United News of Bangladesh cited the Washington-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) as reporting at least 6,883 deaths and more than 50,000 arrests.

NewsBytes reported HRANA figures of 6,445 deaths and noted that Iranian authorities reported over 3,117 deaths.

Asianet Newsable gave similar tallies, saying HRANA reported 6,495 deaths, 214 security forces and 61 bystanders killed, and about 51,000 arrested.

Several reports link public unrest and Tehran's economic squeeze to the government's willingness to consider limited concessions on enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief to ease economic pain.

Observers across sources see narrow paths for a deal.

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Asianet Newsable

Tehran publicly insists its nuclear work is peaceful and defends its right to enrich at home.

Asianet Newsable

Some reporting indicates Iranian officials may offer limited concessions on enrichment in return for sanctions relief.

Proposals are variously described as handing over or suspending access to a roughly 400 kg stockpile or accepting enrichment limits under a regional consortium.

AL‑Monitor reported Iran could show flexibility on uranium enrichment by offering to hand over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium and to accept zero enrichment under a consortium arrangement.

The Jerusalem Post noted similar concessions.

Capitalfm.co.ke summarized Iran’s stance as saying its nuclear programme is peaceful, insisting on its right to enrich uranium at home, rejecting calls to transfer its roughly 400 kg stockpile, but signalling it could accept limited concessions.

Analysts warn that demands to curb missiles or end regional support are red lines that could derail talks and raise the risk of military conflict if negotiations collapse.