For the first time since last June, Iran and the USA held talks on Friday in the Omani capital Muscat. However, the negotiators from both sides sat in different rooms and, according to Tehran, only communicated with each other indirectly through an intermediary. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi carried messages back and forth. Nothing was initially known about the content of the discussions. There appeared to be no tangible results to be announced.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi then announced that it had been agreed that the talks should continue. Data and formats still need to be decided. Araghchi spoke of a “good start” and a “positive atmosphere”. However, he made it clear that Iran was preparing for a lengthy negotiation process. In future rounds of talks, mutual mistrust must first be overcome and then “a framework for talks and topics to be discussed can be agreed upon,” he said on Iranian state television.
On the American side, this is likely to reinforce suspicions that Tehran’s main aim may be to gain time in order to delay a possible American military operation. Araghchi’s continued insistence that “the only topic of our discussions” is the Iranian nuclear program is also likely to be met with resistance in Washington. Not Tehran’s missile arsenal and Iran’s support for foreign militias, as Washington demands.
Tehran is irritated by the military in the US delegation
Oman’s Foreign Minister Busaidi confirmed that they aim to resume talks “soon”. The Iranian delegation said that this could happen in the coming days. Busaidi said it made sense to clarify the positions of both sides and identify potential for possible progress.
Expectations for the first meeting were low from the start. Tehran stated that its goal was to find out whether the other side was serious and had good will. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these people.”
In addition to special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the American delegation also included the commander of the American Central Command CENTCOM, Brad Cooper. This apparently caused irritation on the Iranian side. Iran’s delegation was led by Araghchi, who is in regular contact with Witkoff via text messages.
Oman’s foreign minister made it clear after the first of two rounds of talks on Friday that quick results were not to be expected. “The consultations focused on creating appropriate conditions for a resumption of diplomatic and technical negotiations,” he said. According to Iranian state television, the talks were temporarily suspended so that both sides could “consult their capitals.”
Iran doesn’t want to talk about missiles
The American president’s spokeswoman had previously said that Donald Trump was ready for feedback from Witkoff and Kushner. At the same time, she recalled the military options available to the “commander-in-chief of the most powerful military in the history of the world”. In keeping with this, Washington once again called on all Americans in Iran to leave the country or go to a safe environment. Presumably this mainly concerns people with dual citizenship.
Iran also tried to demonstrate strength in the hours before the negotiations. The impression widespread in Washington that the regime is so weakened that it can be forced to make concessions should be contradicted. The Revolutionary Guard released images of a Khorramshahr-4 solid-fuel ballistic missile and said Tehran had begun mass production. The message behind it was immediately delivered: “Although Iran has come to the negotiating table, it is not ready to give up its military power.”
That was intended as a rejection of American demands that Iran limit the quantity and range of its ballistic missiles. Before the start of the talks, Araghchi pushed on Platform This referred to the fact that Israel attacked Iran in June 2025, three days before a planned meeting between Witkoff and Araghchi. Tehran accuses America of deliberately deceiving Iran and thus enabling Israel to create a surprise effect.
Bessent: “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.”
Tehran also underlined its defense readiness with a new personnel appointment: Former Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani was appointed Secretary of the Defense Council. The newly created council was a response to the Twelve Day War with Israel. Shamkhani had attracted attention in recent days with his maximalist positions on the negotiations with the USA. He seemed to be stabbing Araghchi in the back. But on Thursday Shamkhani projected an image of unity: Araghchi is “a talented and strategic negotiator who enjoys the trust of the highest decision-making levels as well as the military and intelligence institutions.”
The meeting in Oman was accompanied by taunts on both sides. Araghchi’s departure point was given as Tabas instead of Tehran. In 1980, America tried in vain to free the diplomats who were being held hostage in the American embassy. The hostage crisis laid the foundation for decades of hostility with the Islamic Republic.
There were mocking signals from Washington. “We have seen the Iranian leadership moving money out of the country like crazy,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.” Iran received support from China on Friday: Beijing will defend Tehran against “unilateral harassment” and help the country to “preserve its sovereignty, security, national dignity and legitimate rights and interests,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
