In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, is welcomed by an unidentified Omani official, centre, upon his arrival at Muscat, Oman, for negotiations with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, as Iranian Ambassador to Oman Mousa Farhang walks at right, on May 11, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will take place on Friday (February 6, 2026) in Oman, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, as tensions between the countries remain high following Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month.
The announcement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks.
“I’m grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements,” Mr. Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) evening.
Earlier on Wednesday (February 4, 2026), a regional official said Iran was seeking a “different” type of meeting than that what had been proposed by Turkiye, one focused exclusively on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, with participation limited to Iran and the United States. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
The Trump administration confirmed the U.S. will take part in high-level talks with Iran in Oman instead of Turkiye as originally planned, according to White House official.
The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that several Arab and Muslim leaders urged the Trump administration on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) not to walk away from talks even as Iranian officials pressed to narrow the scope of talks and change the venue for the negotiations.
The official added that the White House remains “very skeptical” that the talks will be successful but have agreed to go along with the change in plans out of respect from allies in the region.
Tensions between the countries spiked after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to the crackdown on protesters. Mr. Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear programme.
Turkiye urges diplomacy
On Wednesday (February 4, 2026), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkiye’s opposition to foreign intervention in neighbouring Iran, calling for the resolution of issues through dialogue.
Turkiye has been urgently working for the past week to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, and was previously expected to host the talks.
“We believe that external interventions involving our neighbour Iran would pose significant risks for the entire region,” Mr. Erdogan said during a visit to Cairo. “Resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear file, through diplomatic means is the most appropriate approach.”
Published – February 05, 2026 04:01 am IST
