February 4, 2026
US–Iran talks move to Oman as
diplomacy narrows to nuclear file amid mounting military preparations.
Key Developments
The United States has agreed to an Iranian request to relocate planned diplomatic talks from Türkiye to Oman, narrowing both the venue and scope of discussions at a moment of heightened regional tension.
According to Axios, the administration of Donald Trump accepted Tehran’s request to move Friday’s talks from Istanbul to Muscat. While the White House did not publicly announce the venue change, officials confirmed that preparations for talks are continuing.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said US envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected to meet Iranian officials this week, stressing that Trump “continues to pursue diplomacy,” while warning that “other options remain on the table,” including military action.
Trump himself told reporters that negotiations with Iran are ongoing and that Tehran “wants to make a deal,” even as Washington signaled that diplomacy would proceed alongside sustained pressure.
Iran Seeks a Narrow Nuclear Agenda
Iranian officials made clear that the relocation to Oman is not merely logistical but political.
According to Bloomberg and Reuters, Tehran insisted that talks be confined exclusively to its nuclear program, rejecting US and Israeli efforts to expand discussions to include Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities or its regional alliances.
A regional official cited by Reuters said Iran prefers Oman because it previously hosted sensitive nuclear negotiations and is viewed by Tehran as a neutral, trusted mediator. Iran also opposed the participation of additional regional states beyond Türkiye, reinforcing its demand for direct, bilateral talks with Washington.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that talks are planned “in the coming days,” adding that multiple countries, including Türkiye and Oman, had offered to host.
Baghaei warned against turning venue discussions into “media games,” underscoring Tehran’s desire to keep negotiations tightly controlled and focused.
Regional Diplomacy Intensifies
In parallel with US coordination, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a round of regional consultations.
Araghchi spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, thanking Ankara for its efforts to reduce tensions, and separately contacted Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, praising Oman’s role in facilitating dialogue.
He also consulted with Kuwaiti officials, emphasizing regional coordination as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to ripple across the Middle East.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry echoed this line, saying there is growing regional momentum to shift toward diplomacy and away from confrontation, particularly as military signaling accelerates.
Israeli Pressure Shapes the Background
As diplomatic channels adjusted, Israel intensified its parallel engagement with Washington.
Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military and intelligence officials, including the defense minister, army chief of staff, and Mossad director.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu presented a set of non-negotiable Israeli demands for any agreement with Iran, including zero uranium enrichment, removal of Iran’s enriched stockpile, termination of its missile program, and an end to its support for allied groups across the region.
Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that an agreement limited to nuclear issues would leave Israel exposed to what it describes as Iran’s “real threat”: long-range missiles and regional influence.
Military Signals Escalate
Against this backdrop, Israeli media reported that the Israeli army conducted its largest recent drill simulating an Iranian missile assault involving approximately 2,000 missiles striking major population centers.
The Home Front Command drill reportedly simulated widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, and mass casualty rescue operations. Though the army described the exercise as pre-planned, Israeli media linked it directly to tensions surrounding the US–Iran talks.
Former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly warned that Israel must urgently prepare shelters for millions of civilians, saying the country could face unprecedented missile fire if war breaks out.
Drone Incidents
Tensions further escalated following conflicting reports about drone activity in international waters.
Iranian media reported that a Shahed-129 drone operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps completed a reconnaissance mission and transmitted its data before losing communication for unknown reasons.
The report came shortly after US Central Command said a US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, claiming it posed a threat to US forces.
White House officials said the drone incident did not affect the scheduled talks, though analysts noted it underscores the fragile environment surrounding the diplomatic effort.
Diplomacy Under Pressure
Despite repeated assertions from Washington that talks remain on track “as far as we’re concerned,” the diplomatic window appears narrow.
Israel continues to push for a maximalist agreement or military action, while Iran insists on limiting talks strictly to nuclear matters and rejects broader concessions.
At the same time, US military deployments in the region remain elevated, and Israeli preparedness signals suggest that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of potential escalation.
While Oman’s role offers a familiar channel for dialogue, the convergence of military drills, drone incidents, and hardening political positions raises questions about whether diplomacy can stabilize the situation—or merely delay a wider confrontation.
- The US agreed to Iran’s request to relocate talks from Istanbul to Oman and limit the agenda to nuclear issues.
- Iran rejected including missiles or regional allies in negotiations, opposing broader US and Israeli demands.
- Israel pressed Washington to impose zero enrichment, halt Iran’s missile program, and cut regional ties.
- Israeli forces conducted major drills simulating a 2,000-missile Iranian attack on population centers.
- Drone incidents and naval tensions escalated as talks remained officially “on” despite military posturing.
The United States has agreed to an Iranian request to relocate planned diplomatic talks from Türkiye to Oman, narrowing both the venue and scope of discussions at a moment of heightened regional tension.
According to Axios, the administration of Donald Trump accepted Tehran’s request to move Friday’s talks from Istanbul to Muscat. While the White House did not publicly announce the venue change, officials confirmed that preparations for talks are continuing.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said US envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected to meet Iranian officials this week, stressing that Trump “continues to pursue diplomacy,” while warning that “other options remain on the table,” including military action.
Trump himself told reporters that negotiations with Iran are ongoing and that Tehran “wants to make a deal,” even as Washington signaled that diplomacy would proceed alongside sustained pressure.
Iran Seeks a Narrow Nuclear Agenda
Iranian officials made clear that the relocation to Oman is not merely logistical but political.
According to Bloomberg and Reuters, Tehran insisted that talks be confined exclusively to its nuclear program, rejecting US and Israeli efforts to expand discussions to include Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities or its regional alliances.
A regional official cited by Reuters said Iran prefers Oman because it previously hosted sensitive nuclear negotiations and is viewed by Tehran as a neutral, trusted mediator. Iran also opposed the participation of additional regional states beyond Türkiye, reinforcing its demand for direct, bilateral talks with Washington.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that talks are planned “in the coming days,” adding that multiple countries, including Türkiye and Oman, had offered to host.
Baghaei warned against turning venue discussions into “media games,” underscoring Tehran’s desire to keep negotiations tightly controlled and focused.
Regional Diplomacy Intensifies
In parallel with US coordination, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a round of regional consultations.
Araghchi spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, thanking Ankara for its efforts to reduce tensions, and separately contacted Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, praising Oman’s role in facilitating dialogue.
He also consulted with Kuwaiti officials, emphasizing regional coordination as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to ripple across the Middle East.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry echoed this line, saying there is growing regional momentum to shift toward diplomacy and away from confrontation, particularly as military signaling accelerates.
Israeli Pressure Shapes the Background
As diplomatic channels adjusted, Israel intensified its parallel engagement with Washington.
Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military and intelligence officials, including the defense minister, army chief of staff, and Mossad director.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu presented a set of non-negotiable Israeli demands for any agreement with Iran, including zero uranium enrichment, removal of Iran’s enriched stockpile, termination of its missile program, and an end to its support for allied groups across the region.
Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that an agreement limited to nuclear issues would leave Israel exposed to what it describes as Iran’s “real threat”: long-range missiles and regional influence.
Military Signals Escalate
Against this backdrop, Israeli media reported that the Israeli army conducted its largest recent drill simulating an Iranian missile assault involving approximately 2,000 missiles striking major population centers.
The Home Front Command drill reportedly simulated widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, and mass casualty rescue operations. Though the army described the exercise as pre-planned, Israeli media linked it directly to tensions surrounding the US–Iran talks.
Former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly warned that Israel must urgently prepare shelters for millions of civilians, saying the country could face unprecedented missile fire if war breaks out.
Drone Incidents
Tensions further escalated following conflicting reports about drone activity in international waters.
Iranian media reported that a Shahed-129 drone operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps completed a reconnaissance mission and transmitted its data before losing communication for unknown reasons.
The report came shortly after US Central Command said a US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, claiming it posed a threat to US forces.
White House officials said the drone incident did not affect the scheduled talks, though analysts noted it underscores the fragile environment surrounding the diplomatic effort.
Diplomacy Under Pressure
Despite repeated assertions from Washington that talks remain on track “as far as we’re concerned,” the diplomatic window appears narrow.
Israel continues to push for a maximalist agreement or military action, while Iran insists on limiting talks strictly to nuclear matters and rejects broader concessions.
At the same time, US military deployments in the region remain elevated, and Israeli preparedness signals suggest that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of potential escalation.
While Oman’s role offers a familiar channel for dialogue, the convergence of military drills, drone incidents, and hardening political positions raises questions about whether diplomacy can stabilize the situation—or merely delay a wider confrontation.
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