Indirect talks between Iranian and US officials have concluded in Oman, according to Tehran, following weeks of heightened tensions and growing fears of a potential military confrontation between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Muscat for the discussions, while US President Donald Trump’s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented Washington.
Analysts say the path ahead remains fraught. Abbas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Tehran-based Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies, noted that negotiations over nuclear and regional issues are expected to be particularly complex, with both sides pushing the limits of deterrence as escalation risks linger, according to Al-Jazeera.
He warned that failure could narrow Iran’s options, raising questions over whether Tehran would pursue de-escalation, strategic patience, or back-channel diplomacy if the gap between the sides proves too wide.
Reporting from Tehran, observers say ordinary Iranians are less focused on diplomacy’s technicalities and more on daily survival. Many are grappling with severe economic pressure, soaring prices, and sharp currency depreciation, which in some cases has seen the national currency lose significant value in short periods.
Beyond economic hardship, decades of geopolitical tension have left the population living under the recurring threat of conflict.
Analysts say what many Iranians seek most is stability and predictability, along with broader normalization with the region and the wider world.
Araghchi told Iran’s state news agency that Tehran stressed any negotiations must proceed free from threats or pressure.
“The prerequisite for any dialogue is to refrain from threats and pressure,” he said, adding that Iran expects this principle to be respected if talks are to continue.
His remarks come after repeated warnings from President Trump about possible military action and a US military buildup in the Gulf, developments that have heightened regional concerns about a direct clash.
