By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump said Friday that high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran in Oman had gone well and that both sides plan to meet again early next week, though he did not provide details about the discussions.
“They had a very good meeting with a very high representative of Iran, and we’ll see how it all turns out,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, stressing that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons under any agreement.
He added that Iran is eager to reach a deal and warned of severe consequences if negotiations fail. “They know the consequences if they don’t. If they don’t make a deal, the consequences are very steep,” he said.
U.S. and Iranian officials did not meet face-to-face, instead communicating through Omani mediators, according to a U.S. official.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated amid Trump’s repeated warnings of possible military action. The United States underscored its military posture at the talks, with Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, appearing in uniform. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner served as key negotiators.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also described the discussions positively, calling them “a good start” and saying both sides agreed to continue talks after consulting their respective governments.
The situation remains volatile. The U.S. military has been deploying additional aircraft and air defense systems to the Middle East as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group moves closer to potential strike range of Tehran. Earlier this week, a fighter jet from the carrier shot down an Iranian drone that approached the ship with what officials described as unclear intent.
While Trump has left open the possibility of regime change in Iran, U.S. officials say the administration has not finalized its objectives or developed a clear post-conflict plan in the event of military action. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attack would trigger a regional war.
The Trump administration has also intensified pressure on Iran through sanctions. The State Department announced new penalties targeting 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 vessels tied to Iran’s illicit petroleum and petrochemical trade, accusing the Iranian government of destabilizing behavior and violent repression of protesters.
Mass protests erupted in Iran in late December over economic hardship, currency collapse, and inflation, evolving into widespread demonstrations against the ruling clergy. Human rights groups report that the government’s crackdown has been severe, with nearly 7,000 deaths confirmed and more than 50,000 people arrested, making it one of the most violent crackdowns in Iran’s modern history.
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