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Trump Warns Khamenei Ahead of Friday Muscat Talks as US Naval Buildup Intensifies

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  • Iranians protest outside the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt for an end to the regime in Tehran and call for the U.S. to intervene in the conflict.
    Image: Newsweek
    Iranians protest outside the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt for an end to the regime in Tehran and call for the U.S. to intervene in the conflict. Source Full size
  • Iranian officials have warned of an "immediate and unprecedented" response to any US attack
    Image: BBC
    Iranian officials have warned of an "immediate and unprecedented" response to any US attack (EPA) Source Full size
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    Iran's Presidential website/WANA/Reuters Source Full size
  • Trump declined to say whether there was a timeline for withdrawing a large US naval fleet from waters near Iran
    Image: BBC
    Trump declined to say whether there was a timeline for withdrawing a large US naval fleet from waters near Iran (EPA) Source Full size
  • While many harbor real grievances with their government, Iranians worry U.S. intervention could make matters worse.
    Image: Newsweek
    While many harbor real grievances with their government, Iranians worry U.S. intervention could make matters worse. Source Full size
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  • The fleet is headed by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (file image)
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    The fleet is headed by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (file image) (Handout via Reuters) Source Full size
  • A naval strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East, reports say
    Image: BBC
    A naval strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East, reports say (Mike Blake/Reuters) Source Full size
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    Image: BBC
    Iran's Presidential website/WANA/Reuters Source Full size
  • Iranian officials have warned of an "immediate and unprecedented" response to any US attack
    Image: BBC
    Iranian officials have warned of an "immediate and unprecedented" response to any US attack (EPA) Source Full size
  • Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to hold back in his response to Iran earlier this month
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    Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to hold back in his response to Iran earlier this month (Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Some Iranian missiles got through Israeli air defences during the 12-day war
    Image: BBC
    Some Iranian missiles got through Israeli air defences during the 12-day war (Reuters) Source Full size
  • Poll suggest Israelis support military action against Iran
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    Poll suggest Israelis support military action against Iran (Dave Bull/BBC) Source Full size
  • Protests in Iran have so far failed to overthrow Ayatollah Khamenei's regime
    Image: BBC
    Protests in Iran have so far failed to overthrow Ayatollah Khamenei's regime (Getty Images) Source Full size
  • The fleet is headed by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (file image)
    Image: BBC
    The fleet is headed by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (file image) (Handout via Reuters) Source Full size
  • Trump declined to say whether there was a timeline for withdrawing a large US naval fleet from waters near Iran
    Image: BBC
    Trump declined to say whether there was a timeline for withdrawing a large US naval fleet from waters near Iran (EPA) Source Full size
  • A naval strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East, reports say
    Image: BBC
    A naval strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East, reports say (Mike Blake/Reuters) Source Full size
  • Trump threatened to attack Iran if protesters were killed
    Image: BBC
    Trump threatened to attack Iran if protesters were killed (Reuters) Source Full size
  • The US attacked Iranian nuclear sites during Iran's war with Israel in June 2025
    Image: BBC
    The US attacked Iranian nuclear sites during Iran's war with Israel in June 2025 (Maxar Technologies/EPA) Source Full size
  • Iranians protest outside the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt for an end to the regime in Tehran and call for the U.S. to intervene in the conflict.
    Image: Newsweek
    Iranians protest outside the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt for an end to the regime in Tehran and call for the U.S. to intervene in the conflict. Source Full size
  • While many harbor real grievances with their government, Iranians worry U.S. intervention could make matters worse.
    Image: Newsweek
    While many harbor real grievances with their government, Iranians worry U.S. intervention could make matters worse. Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
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    Image: Le Monde
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  • Le ministre des affaires étrangères iranien, Abbas Araghtchi, avant des négociations avec les Etats-Unis, à Mascate (Oman), le 25 avril 2025.MINISTÈRE IRANIEN DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES VIA REUTERS
    Image: Le Monde
    Le ministre des affaires étrangères iranien, Abbas Araghtchi, avant des négociations avec les Etats-Unis, à Mascate (Oman), le 25 avril 2025.MINISTÈRE IRANIEN DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES VIA REUTERS (MINISTÈRE IRANIEN DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES VIA REUTERS) Source Full size

Trump’s Direct Warning to Iran’s Leader In an NBC interview aired on Feb 4, President Donald Trump told Ayatollah Ali Khamenei he should be “very worried” and warned of “very hard” retaliation if Tehran does not meet U.S. demands [1][2][3]. The comment came as Tehran continued to expand its nuclear activities, prompting the president to link the warning to the upcoming diplomatic engagement [1]. Trump’s message emphasized both nuclear cessation and an end to the mass killings of protesters [1][2].

Friday Muscat Negotiations Set Between U.S. Envoy and Iranian Minister Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet Friday around 10 a.m. in Muscat, Oman, after the venue was shifted from Turkey following Arab pressure [1][2][3]. The United States will press for limits on Iran’s nuclear work, ballistic‑missile program, terrorist sponsorship and human‑rights abuses, while Tehran says the talks will focus solely on its nuclear program and sanction relief [1][2][3]. Both sides acknowledge the talks are the first formal contact since the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities [3].

US Military Posture Escalates Around Iran The White House confirmed the deployment of the nuclear‑powered carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several Tomahawk‑armed destroyers to the region, describing the force as a “substantial air‑and‑naval strike group” ready to act if Tehran rejects U.S. terms [1][2][9]. A U.S. aircraft carrier shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea, and IRGC gunboats later threatened a U.S.–flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz [1]. The naval buildup is presented as pressure to compel Tehran back to the negotiating table [2][9].

Iran Shows Missile Capability and Sets Red Lines State‑run Press TV reported the underground deployment of the Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile, capable of striking targets over 1,240 miles away with a 3,300‑pound warhead [1]. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi reiterated that missile and defensive‑system issues are off‑limits for discussion, warning that any U.S. aggression would trigger an immediate, decisive response [10][11]. Tehran’s stance underscores its insistence on “fair and just” talks without external dictation [10].

Human‑Rights Crisis Fuels Diplomatic Tension A nationwide crackdown on anti‑government protests since late December has resulted in thousands of deaths, with HRANA documenting over 6,400 fatalities and tens of thousands of arrests [1][12][5]. Trump demanded that Iran halt both its nuclear program and the killing of protesters as preconditions for avoiding a U.S. strike [1][12]. The humanitarian fallout is amplifying pressure on both capitals to find a diplomatic outlet before the situation escalates further [5][12].

Regional Actors Offer Mediation Amid Divergent Goals Turkey announced plans to convene U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff with senior Iranian officials by week’s end, while Russia’s President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to monitor de‑escalation efforts [6][10]. The European Union added the IRGC to its terrorist list, prompting Tehran to summon EU ambassadors [6]. Multiple regional leaders, including Oman, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are expected to attend the Muscat talks, reflecting a broad, albeit fragmented, diplomatic push to contain the crisis [4][6][10].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 12, 2025 – President Donald Trump warns the United States will strike any new Iranian nuclear site if Tehran restarts its program without a deal, citing the June 2025 U.S.–Israeli strikes that destroyed key enrichment facilities. [25]

Dec 22, 2025 – Iran’s foreign‑ministry spokesman declares the ballistic‑missile programme defensive and non‑negotiable, insisting the missiles exist solely to deter aggression. [28]

Dec 28, 2025 – President Masoud Pezeshkian states Iran is in a full‑scale war with the United States, Europe and Israel, comparing the conflict to the 1980‑88 Iran‑Iraq war and noting a stronger military than during the June 2025 air campaign. [24]

Dec 30, 2025 – President Pezeshkian posts on X that any “cruel aggression” against Iran will meet a harsh and discouraging response, echoing Tehran’s rebuke of Trump’s nuclear warnings. [23]

Dec 31, 2025 – Reports reveal the IRGC is developing chemical and biological warheads for ballistic missiles, while Trump warns the United States could back Israeli strikes if Tehran rebuilds its long‑range missile capability. [22]

Jan 5, 2026 – Trump tells Iran it will be “hit very hard” if more protesters die, as protests spread to 222 locations and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu outlines a possible “Operation Iron Strike” against Iran. [21]

Jan 8, 2026 – Iran accuses the United States of a “campaign of interference” that mixes sanctions, information warfare and threats, after Trump threatens a hard‑line response to the protest crackdown. [20]

Jan 12, 2026 – Trump says the U.S. military is weighing “very strong options” in response to Iran’s third‑week protests, notes drone overflights of crowds and discusses restoring internet access with Elon Musk’s Starlink. [19]

Jan 13, 2026 – Trump imposes a 25 % tariff on any country doing business with Iran, calling the measure “final and conclusive” and linking it to the ongoing protest death toll. [18]

Jan 13, 2026 – U.S. officials brief Trump on a broad toolbox of covert, cyber and long‑range missile‑strike options against Iran, highlighting the range of possible actions. [15]

Jan 13, 2026 – German politician Friedrich Merz declares the Iranian regime “near its end” amid deadly protests and urges the EU to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. [16]

Jan 13, 2026 – Trump states Iran wants to negotiate with Washington, while Oman’s foreign minister travels to Tehran to mediate the talks. [17]

Jan 14, 2026 – Trump tells his national‑security team he needs a confirmed death‑toll for Iranian protesters, noting five different figures, and signals the administration will act accordingly. [13]

Jan 14, 2026 – Trump urges Iran to abandon its nuclear programme and stop killing protesters, warning of a “massive Armada” of ships already sailing toward Iran. [3]

Jan 14, 2026 – Trump claims Iran prefers a nuclear deal over war, saying the outcome depends on Tehran’s choices, while Iran’s foreign minister repeats that missile‑defence systems are off the negotiating table. [4]

Jan 15, 2026 – The U.S. carrier strike group USS Abraham Lincoln moves into the Central Command area near Iran, heightening the risk of a broader confrontation. [5]

Jan 21, 2026 – Iran’s armed‑forces spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi warns that any aggression toward Supreme Leader Khamenei will trigger strong retaliation, after Trump calls the ayatollah a “sick man.” [10]

Jan 29, 2026 – Analysts outline possible outcomes of a U.S. strike on Iran, ranging from limited precision attacks to regime‑change scenarios that could spark civil war and disrupt the Strait of Hormuz. [9]

Jan 30, 2026 – Trump says Iran wants a nuclear deal and warns its window to negotiate is closing as a U.S. naval buildup approaches Iranian waters; Iran’s foreign minister reiterates that missile‑defence systems are non‑negotiable. [4]

Jan 30, 2026 – Trump demands Iran halt its nuclear programme and stop killing protesters, threatening a “massive Armada” of ships; Iran’s foreign minister warns of rapid retaliation and keeps “fingers on the trigger.” [3]

Jan 31, 2026 – Israeli military‑intelligence chief Shlomi Binder meets U.S. intelligence officials in Washington to discuss possible strike targets inside Iran, reflecting private lobbying for a maximalist U.S. attack. [2]

Jan 31, 2026 – Turkey works to convene U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials for talks by week’s end, while the EU designates the IRGC as a terrorist organization, prompting Tehran to summon EU ambassadors. [7]

Feb 2, 2026 – President Masoud Pezeshkian orders the start of nuclear negotiations with the United States, saying a negotiation framework will be ready in days as the U.S. moves a carrier group toward West Asia. [26]

Feb 3, 2026 – Pezeshkian announces Iran will negotiate with the U.S. only in a “threat‑free environment,” directing Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to pursue talks under those conditions. [1]

Feb 4, 2026 – Trump warns Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the United States is “very worried” and that any new Iranian nuclear site will meet “very hard” retaliation, ahead of scheduled Muscat talks. [30]

Feb 5, 2026 – Trump tells NBC the Iranian Supreme Leader should be “very worried” as both sides prepare for their first formal Muscat talks, while Iran showcases the long‑range Khorramshahr‑4 missile. [6]

Feb 5, 2026 – In Muscat, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meet to discuss limits on nuclear work, ballistic missiles, terrorism sponsorship and human‑rights issues. [6]

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