On Friday, President Trump praised positive talks with Iran in the Sultanate of Oman, the day after indirect negotiations focusing on the nuclear file amid new US sanctions. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also noted, in a statement to Iranian state television, what he called a “very positive atmosphere,” stressing that the two sides had exchanged arguments and informed each of them of the other party’s views, adding that the two sides “agreed to continue negotiations.”

Published on: 02/07/2026 - 08:48 Last updated: 02/07/2026 - 14:25

US President Donald Trump praised on Friday the "very good" talks taking place with Iran, following the holding of a round of indirect negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic in the Sultanate of Oman, stressing that the two sides will meet again "early next week."

Trump told reporters on board Air Force One as he headed to Mar-a-Lago in Florida for the weekend, “We also had very good talks about Iran, and it seems that Iran is very keen to conclude an agreement,” adding, “We will meet again early next week.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who headed his country's delegation to the discussions, also praised, in a statement to Iranian official television, "a very positive atmosphere. We exchanged arguments and informed the other party of its views," adding that the two sides "agreed to continue negotiations."

Read also: Return to live coverage of the US-Iranian discussions in Amman

Exclusive Iranian focus on the nuclear file

Araqchi stressed that “the discussions focus exclusively on the nuclear file, and we are not discussing any other file with the Americans,” while the United States stresses the need to also address its ballistic missile program and its support for armed organizations in the region.

The Iranian Foreign Minister urged Washington to stop "threats" against his country to allow the talks to continue, explaining that the negotiators will determine ways to "move forward" after consulting with the two capitals.

Shortly after the end of the negotiating round, Washington announced the imposition of new sanctions on the Iranian oil sector, which included 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 ships.

The first negotiations after the Twelve Day War

These are the first talks since the United States launched strikes in June on key sites of the Iranian nuclear program during the 12-day war that Israel began against Iran.

Iranian state television reported that it was taking place indirectly, while the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs published pictures showing Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi meeting with both delegations separately.

But the American website Axios quoted two sources as saying that direct discussions took place between Araghchi, Witkoff, and Kushner in the Sultanate of Oman.

“We held very serious discussions between Iran and the United States in Muscat today,” the Omani Foreign Minister said on the X platform, adding that it was “useful to clarify the Iranian and American positions and identify areas of possible progress.”

Read also: What do we know about the “last chance talks” in Muscat between the United States and Iran?

Different statements from Tehran and Washington

Araqchi had stressed that his country was “ready to defend its sovereignty and national security in the face of any extravagant demands or American adventures.”

“Iran enters diplomacy with its eyes open and with a firm memory of the past year... We are entering into the talks in good faith and firmly upholding our rights,” he wrote on the X platform.

In Washington, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said Thursday that the American delegation will discuss with Iran “zero nuclear capabilities,” and warned that Trump has “many options at his disposal other than diplomacy,” noting that he is “the commander-in-chief of the most powerful army in history.”

The talks are taking place as Washington strengthens its military capabilities in the Middle East, with the deployment of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and its naval strike group to the region, while Iran has vowed to target American bases in the region if they are attacked.

Different international positions

Trump said Thursday, “They are negotiating... They do not want us to attack them,” recalling that his country deploys a “large fleet” in the region.

After the US President threatened to strike Iran in support of the demonstrators, he changed his speech to focus on the nuclear program.

Western countries and Israel accuse Iran of seeking to possess a nuclear bomb, which Tehran denies, asserting its right to possess a civilian nuclear program.

Before the talks began, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that it “supports Iran in maintaining its sovereignty, security, national dignity, legitimate rights and interests,” adding that it “opposes unilateral bullying.”

As for Qatar, it expressed its hope that the negotiations would lead to “a comprehensive agreement that achieves the interests of both parties and enhances security and stability in the region.”

From Beirut, the French Foreign Minister urged Iran to stop “destabilizing” the region, considering that Tehran must make “major concessions” in negotiations with Washington.

Continuing risks of escalation

Iran confirms that it wants to exclusively discuss the nuclear issue in order to reach a lift of sanctions, rejecting any negotiations on its missile program or its support for armed organizations hostile to Israel in the region, most notably Lebanese Hezbollah, the Palestinian Hamas movement, and the Houthis in Yemen.

But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was categorical, stressing that “in order for the talks to lead to tangible results, they must include specific items, including the range of their ballistic missiles, their support for terrorist organizations in the region, their nuclear program, and their treatment of their own people.”

The Institute for the Study of War, based in the United States, believed that “Tehran still shows intransigence towards meeting the demands of the United States, which reduces the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution.”

Iranians in Tehran hope that the talks will at least remove the specter of war. The manager of a consumer store in the capital told AFP, "There will be no war, but perhaps there will be no peace either."

France 24/AFP

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