Friday 06 / February / 2026
Muscat: Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, arrived in Muscat early Friday morning, February 6, 2026, to initiate a critical new round of nuclear negotiations with a high-level United States of America's delegation. Welcomed by Omani officials, the Iranian team enters these talks during a period of heightened regional tension and significant diplomatic scrutiny.
Accoriding to Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the Iranian delegation, led by Araghchi, includes Deputy for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. Representing the United States are Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President's Special Envoy for the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, assistant and advisor to Donald Trump. Witkoff reportedly arrived in the Omani capital several hours ahead of his Iranian counterparts.
Accoriding to IRNA, these negotiations are set against a volatile backdrop, characterized by a renewed U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and ongoing security threats. Iranian officials have voiced deep skepticism, citing the "bitter experience" of five previous rounds of dialogue that were derailed by military strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Consequently, the restoration of trust—or the lack thereof—remains the primary hurdle for this summit.
Despite intense speculation over the past week that the meeting might be cancelled, both parties have committed to the Muscat table. The talks aim to address the stalled nuclear file and mitigate the risk of further regional escalation, though the gap between Washington and Tehran remains substantial.
