Friday Muscat Meeting Confirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that U.S. and Iranian delegations will meet Friday at 10 a.m. in Muscat, with Oman acting as host after earlier doubts about the summit’s occurrence [1][2]. The announcement follows Tehran’s recent crackdown on nationwide protests and aims to reduce post‑crackdown tensions [2]. Both outlets note that the talks are the first direct nuclear‑focused engagement since the June 2025 collapse of earlier Oman negotiations [2].

Trump Delivers Direct Warning to Supreme Leader Khamenei In an NBC interview aired Feb 4, President Donald Trump told Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Tehran should be “very worried” and that the United States is prepared to respond with “very hard” retaliation if Iran proceeds with a new nuclear site [1][2]. The warning underscores heightened U.S. pressure ahead of the Friday talks. Trump’s remarks were broadcast the day before the scheduled summit, adding a personal diplomatic dimension to the negotiations [1].

Venue Shift to Oman Resulted from Arab Diplomatic Pressure A White House source reported that the administration moved the meeting from Turkey to Oman after appeals from Arab leaders urging engagement with Tehran [1]. The Associated Press confirmed the Oman venue but emphasized that the decision was not publicly announced and that officials remain skeptical about achieving a breakthrough [2]. The shift reflects broader regional interest in preventing further escalation.

U.S. Insists on Including Missiles, Human Rights, and Regional Issues Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that any agreement must address Iran’s ballistic‑missile program, its support for militant groups, and the treatment of its own population, indicating the United States will not limit talks to the nuclear question [1][2]. Iran, however, has signaled a preference for a “different” format focused solely on its nuclear program, excluding missiles or human‑rights topics [2]. This divergence sets the stage for potential bargaining deadlocks.

U.S. Military Posture Remains Aggressive Amid Ongoing Tensions The White House disclosed that a substantial air‑and‑naval strike force is positioned near Iran and stands ready to act if Tehran rejects U.S. demands, citing a recent Iranian drone that approached a U.S. carrier in the Arabian Sea [1]. The AP article did not mention this military buildup, highlighting a discrepancy in coverage of U.S. readiness. The aggressive posture coexists with diplomatic overtures, reflecting a dual‑track strategy.