by Oui
Sat Feb 28th, 2026 at 12:44:48 AM EST
Foreign Missions Cutting Staff In Safety Risks
War drums sound in the Middle East despite signs of progress in US-Iran talks | The National UAE |
What Iran appears willing to offer falls short of what Washington is demanding in exchange for sanctions relief and the avoidance of war
US-Iran Negotiations Beyond Nuclear Issues Could Lead to Failure
Indirect negotiations in the shadow of threats of war
While the transfer of U.S. military equipment and forces to the Middle East continues and the threat of a new war against Iran by the United States and Israel remains, the mediation efforts of regional countries - including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt - have paved the way for indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States amid high tensions.
Muscat once again hosted indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States on 6 February. Iranian authorities described the talks with the US in Oman as "positive", while US President Donald Trump said they were "very good", but they did not offer a roadmap to alleviate growing fears of a US attack on Iran.[i] The talks took place as the first between the primary conflicting sides after five rounds of indirect negotiations in Oman and Italy, which were halted and yielded no results due to an Israeli military attack and the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities by the United States in June 2025.
The second round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, also mediated by Oman, was held in Geneva on 17 February. While Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that "good progress" had been made,[ii] White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that the two sides remain "very far apart on some issues."[iii] In these circumstances, President Donald Trump signalled on 19 February the U.S. would decide its next moves within 10 days if Iran did not agree to a nuclear deal, potentially giving the Islamic Republic a new deadline as he weighs a second set of strikes on the country.[iv]
The challenge of defining the framework of negotiations
Unlike the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 that resulted in the 2015 JCPOA and which were limited solely to Iran's nuclear issues, there is now significant disagreement between the US and Iran over how to expand the framework of the talks. The U.S. position - supported by Israel and European countries - advocates a broad framework and agenda that includes three areas: nuclear issues, missile building capabilities, and Iran's regional influence via its proxy groups.
In this regard, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 4 February that negotiations with Iran cannot be limited to the nuclear file. Speaking in Washington at a summit on critical mineral development, Rubio emphasized that "That includes the range of their ballistic missiles, that includes their sponsorship of terrorist organizations across the region, that includes a nuclear program and that includes the treatment of their own people."[v] In addition, following Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington on 11 February, President Trump commented that a good deal with Iran would mean "no nuclear weapons, no missiles," without elaborating further.[vi]
Rubio Wants It Both Ways: War and Friendship
Marco Rubio orders US officials to stop commentary that could inflame audience in Middle East | The Guardian |
Exclusive: memo came after Mike Huckabee's remarks about Israel sparked alarm inside White House
"Given rising tensions in the region, Chiefs of Mission and embassies at addressee posts must refrain from public statements, interviews, or social media activity that could in any way inflame regional audiences, prejudice sensitive political issues, or complicate US relationships," the cable said.
"Chiefs of Mission are expected to avoid all commentary on issues that could heighten tensions or create confusion about US policy. Discipline in public messaging is essential, especially at this time," it added.
Inside the administration, the directive was widely interpreted as a pointed rebuke of the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, following his recent appearance on former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's podcast in which he said Israel had a biblical right to much of the land in the Middle East.
While the unclassified cable signed by Rubio did not single out Huckabee by name, its circulation to him and its timing on 23 February - coming two days after his remarks drew condemnation across the Middle East - appeared to leave little doubt about its intended target.
Trump Threatens Assassination Shia Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Khamenei
’UAE did everything we asked for and more’: Netanyahu praises Israeli–Emirati ties | The Cradle |
Pro-Israel Senator Lindsey Graham relayed a message from the Israeli premier to MbZ, saying ‘Bibi is amazed’ by the level of UAE–Israel cooperation
