05 February,2026 12:49 PM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondent
Iran`s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump. PIC/AFP
Iran on Wednesday confirmed that fresh nuclear talks with the United States (US) will be held in Muscat on Friday morning, amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the development on X, saying, "Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday. I'm grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements."
The announcement comes as Tehran and Washington prepare for another round of indirect negotiations after Iran sought a change of venue from Istanbul, news agency ANI reported, quoting Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.
Earlier, Iranian media said the talks would be strictly limited to the country's peaceful nuclear energy programme and the lifting of sanctions, reiterating Tehran's long-standing position that no other issues would be on the agenda.
Araghchi is expected to head the Iranian delegation, accompanied by senior diplomats Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, ANI reported. The US delegation will be led by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, according to reports. The talks will be held indirectly, with Oman acting as mediator.
Press TV said the format would be similar to earlier rounds conducted before last June's US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted the diplomatic process.
Araghchi and Witkoff had led five rounds of nuclear talks last year, but the process was suspended after Israel launched what Iranian officials described as an unprovoked war of aggression just two days before a planned sixth round. The conflict, later joined by the US, reportedly left more than a thousand people dead in Iran and caused extensive damage to civilian, military and scientific facilities.
Against this backdrop, Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that any engagement with Washington must remain confined to nuclear issues, ruling out negotiations on Iran's missile programme or its regional role. They have also said talks can succeed only in an atmosphere free from threats and what they described as illogical or illegal demands, Press TV reported.
Senior figures, including Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, have emphasised that respect and realism are essential for progress in discussions with the US.
The renewed diplomatic push comes amid escalating tensions across West Asia and an increased US military presence in the region.
In early January, US President Donald Trump warned Iran of attacks if the country harmed "peaceful protesters". Days later, coordinated attacks targeted police stations, military installations and civilian infrastructure in several Iranian cities, prompting a security response. Iranian officials said the attacks were aimed at causing mass casualties and destabilising urban centres as a prelude to renewed American aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Since Trump's latest warnings, Iranian authorities, including senior military officials, have issued strong cautions to Washington and its allies against any fresh miscalculation, saying Iran's level of military preparedness has now surpassed pre-war levels.
(With ANI inputs)
