In Oman, Iran Signals Flexibility on Nuclear Deal but Won’t Budge on Missile Program

Iran has indicated in its Friday talks with US diplomats it may accept a long-term freeze on its nuclear activities if sanctions are lifted, though it firmly refuses to negotiate over its ballistic missile arsenal, The New York Times reported Friday.

Tehran maintains that its missile capabilities are an essential element of national “defense,” particularly against Israel.

According to IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed his Omani counterpart that Iran’s immediate objective is “to manage the current situation between Iran and the US and to advance negotiations.”

Shortly after the discussions in Oman concluded, the United States imposed additional sanctions on people, firms, and vessels connected to Iran’s oil trade. Still, Araghchi said the talks were a “good start.”

Iranian media said the meeting ended with a “willingness to continue,” though no next date was set.

The talks unfolded amid a major US military buildup and President Donald Trump’s warnings that Iran would face strikes if it used deadly force on protesters or rejected a nuclear deal. Before arriving, Iran’s foreign minister said the country “enters diplomacy with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year,” adding that “We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights.”

The negotiations were mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and involved Araghchi, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Photos also showed CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper present. The format mirrored earlier rounds that ended after Israel and the US struck Iranian sites last June.

Araghchi presented Oman with a “preliminary plan” for managing US-Iran tensions; Oman relayed it to the US team. Iran insisted talks stay limited to the nuclear file, while Washington sought broader discussions on missiles, proxies, and domestic crackdowns. A core dispute remains Iran’s uranium enrichment; Tehran wants sanctions relief in exchange for limits, while the US rejects its enrichment demands.

The stakes are high: the US has deployed major assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group. Trump has said an “armada” is positioned near Iran “just in case.” Regional states fear a wider war, and analysts warn the threat of conflict remains severe. Iran has signaled it will not show the same “restraint” it did after previous strikes, and it could target US bases, regional allies, and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the talks, analysts who spoke with CNN note that “the threat of war is very serious.”

Nournews stated, “The negotiations between Iran and the US in Muscat, with the presence of the commander of CENTCOM, alongside the transfer of equipment and naval movements, is a combination of negotiations and a show of force to increase pressure. Iran will not retreat under threat. The inclusion of the military component raises the risk and cost of negotiations, and the responsibility for this lies with the US.”

Al-Mayadeen added that current discussions are focused on shaping the structure of the negotiations rather than the agreement’s concrete terms. The outlet claims that Iran has maintained a strict boundary; limiting talks exclusively to its nuclear program.

At around 12:30PM Eastern time, Axios reported that Araghchi has left Oman and will be traveling to Qatar to meet with its Prime Minister.