Oman US Iran
In this photo released by the Oman's Foreign Ministry, Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, center, shakes hands with Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi as Jared Kushner, left, looks on during their meeting prior to Iran and the U.S. negotiations, in Muscat, Oman, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
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President Donald Trump has taken an unusual step of turning to military leaders for high-level diplomacy. The top U.S. commander in the Middle East is involved in talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Trump's Army secretary is engaged in negotiations on trying to end the Russia-Ukraine war. It's not clear whether the military leaders were brought in because of their expertise, connections or to signal potentially tougher options. But the move reflects how the Trump administration has upended traditional U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are balancing both sets of difficult negotiations.
Iranian security official Ali Larijani is in Oman, the country currently mediating talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program. Larijani likely discussed recent indirect talks held in Muscat, the Omani capital. He met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The talks have been described as “important,” though details remain unclear. The U.S. has increased its military presence in the Middle East, including sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, to pressure Iran into an agreement.
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