Overview
- Delegations held indirect, Oman-mediated meetings in Muscat and agreed to continue negotiations, with modalities and timing still undecided.
- The U.S. team included special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper, while Iran’s delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
- Tehran says discussions should focus exclusively on the nuclear program, whereas U.S. officials seek a broader agenda covering missiles, proxy activity, and human rights.
- Washington maintains a robust regional posture with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, additional aircraft and forces, and has not ruled out strikes following a recent drone shootdown near the carrier.
- Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi described the talks as serious and signaled plans to reconvene, as Iran warned it would target U.S. bases if attacked.