Arab and Western media have speculated on what will be discussed at the US-Iran talks, which were supposed to take place in Turkey this week, and have been moved to Oman.
Throughout the week, questions were raised on whether the talks would happen at all.
Al-Ain Media in the UAE reports that several things to look for include: “Iran and the United States are preparing to hold a new round of talks on Friday in Oman, in the latest attempt to address Tehran's nuclear issue."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on X that "nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to take place in Muscat on Friday at approximately 10:00 AM.”
Al-Ain says, “on the eve of the new round of talks, here is what you need to know about Iran’s nuclear program and the tensions that are casting a shadow over relations between Tehran and Washington.” First, it notes the importance Trump has placed on the talks and his personal outreach.
Second, it notes that “Oman had mediated talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Wittkopf, with the two men meeting face-to-face after indirect talks, a rare occurrence given decades of tension between the two countries.
Third, the report focuses on the 12-Day war last year and also the recent protests. “Iran later acknowledged in November that the attacks had brought its uranium enrichment activities in the country to a complete halt, although inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were unable to visit the bombed sites.”
Regarding Western concerns, Al-Ain highlights another issue. “Iran has consistently insisted for decades that its nuclear program is peaceful. But the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear country that enriches uranium to 60%, close to the 90% needed to make a nuclear bomb.” The report notes that Iran has a stockpile of uranium “about 9,870 kilograms, with some of it enriched to 60%.”
Western media speculates on Iran nuclear talks
The Guardian reported that "US and Iran talks brought back from the brink after White House relents on move to Oman. Talks that had been scheduled in Turkey were salvaged after Arab states convinced the White House not to walk away from negotiations.”
“Washington and Tehran said on Wednesday that US-Iran talks will take place on Friday in Oman, easing fears that negotiations were close to breaking down after disputes over the meeting’s venue and format,” France24 said. The issues to be discussed include Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
US Envoy Steve Witkoff has been in the Middle East as the talks are being prepared. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “I think in order for talks to actually lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things, and that includes the range of their ballistic missiles.”
US Vice President JD Vance has also discussed the complexities of dealing with Iran. The challenge is that the Supreme Leader doesn’t attend the talks or communicate directly with the US, leaving the US to deal with Iran’s Foreign Minister. US President Donald Trump can’t engage in personal diplomacy, his hallmark, which complicates the talks.
But things were not entirely smooth sailing. Witkoff stated in a television interview that Iran enriching uranium to 3.67% might be acceptable, the same percentage stipulated in the 2015 nuclear agreement from which the United States withdrew unilaterally under Trump.”
The overall context is that countries in the region mostly oppose US strikes on Iran. However, they also don’t want to see Iranian threats to regional stability. They are watching closely as the venue shifts from Turkey to Oman. Even though Ankara and Tehran have warm relations, it appears Iran thinks Oman will be better in the long-run for talks. Oman has often positioned itself as neutral in the region.
However, it also has a history of warm ties with Iran. The talks come after Turkey’s leader travelled to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. His visit didn’t appear to show urgency in preventing conflict with Iran. Countries in the region seem to think the January crisis may have passed.
Meanwhile, Witkoff has already shown that there are other wins to be had in the region. “Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners - the first such exchange in five months,” he posted on X on February 5.
“This outcome was achieved from peace talks that have been detailed and productive. While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Discussions will continue, with additional progress anticipated in the coming weeks.” He concluded, “We thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting these discussions, and President Donald J. Trump for his leadership in making this agreement possible.”