Iran-US Nuclear Talks Begin Amid Rising Tensions

Indirect Muscat negotiations face agenda dispute as US urges citizens to leave Iran

February 6, 2026: Iran and the United States began high-stakes indirect negotiations on Friday under Omani mediation, seeking to narrow differences over Tehran’s nuclear programme even as regional tensions escalated. While both sides signalled willingness to pursue diplomacy, sharp disagreements over the scope of talks cast a shadow over the process. Adding to the uncertainty, the US embassy issued an urgent advisory asking American citizens to leave Iran immediately, fuelling fears that fragile diplomacy could unravel into a wider Middle East crisis.

An Iranian official told Reuters that formal negotiations had not yet started, though Tehran’s positions had already been conveyed to Washington via Oman. The talks are expected to follow a shuttle-diplomacy format, beginning with discussions between Oman’s foreign minister and the top US negotiator. Washington has pushed to expand the agenda beyond the nuclear issue to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme, regional influence and human rights concerns, a stance reiterated this week by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Tehran, however, has firmly rejected any expansion, insisting that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff focus strictly on nuclear matters in Muscat.

Even as diplomatic efforts moved cautiously forward, tensions on the ground intensified. The US embassy warned Americans to leave Iran by any available means, saying they should not expect government assistance. Reports indicated heightened security measures within Iran, road restrictions and curbs on air travel, with several airlines scaling back operations. The parallel tracks of indirect negotiations and emergency travel advisories have deepened concerns among regional observers that failure in Muscat could quickly trigger a broader confrontation.