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3. U.S. to Resume Iran Nuclear Talks After Brief Cancellation Signal

Senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday that they will proceed with plans to convene in Muscat, Oman on Friday to discuss the nuclear issue after reports earlier in the day signaled a cancellation of the talks. 

The U.S. has modified its position on the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks after nine Arab and Muslim countries lobbied for U.S. participation in negotiations.

Following the resumption of dialogue, U.S. officials commented that regional allies pressed for them to “hear what the Iranians have to say” but added that “we are very skeptical about the chances of success,” indicating that holding the meetings will be in part to reassure regional allies and to maintain a diplomatic track.

Earlier on Wednesday, two senior U.S. officials told the Israeli news agency N12 that the nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran expected to take place on Friday were cancelled. The stated reason is that their Iranian counterparts have backtracked on previously agreed parameters of the talks, including location and the terms to be negotiated. 

“We want to reach a real agreement quickly, otherwise people will start looking at other options,” a senior U.S. official stated. They added that if Iran was willing to return to the original format of the talks, then the U.S. would be ready and willing to convene. 

The two parties have disagreed over what will be included in the meetings. 

On January 29, senior U.S. officials outlined three core demands to Iran: a fair nuclear deal, cutbacks in range and quantity of ballistic missiles, and breaking ties with regional proxies. 

Iran has expressed that it is not willing to discuss anything past the nuclear issue, characterizing the demands as “excessive and unrealistic” while adding that there is no diplomatic path under direct military threat. 

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Israel on Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli defense officials to align positions regarding the nuclear talks. Also dubious of discussions being successful, an Israeli official stated that “Steve was very combative toward the Iranians. He understands they are trying to play him and said he won’t allow that.”

Trump’s senior advisor Jared Kushner will be traveling to Qatar to gather as planned, discussing the situation with Iran ahead of Friday’s meetings in Oman.

Amid the exchange of escalatory rhetoric between the U.S. and Iran throughout January, both have expressed willingness to engage in diplomatic talks. 

As the Trump administration repositioned an aircraft carrier strike group “armada” towards the Middle East, Trump stated on Truth Social last week that “hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties.” At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump expressed that “Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk.”

The week before the World Economic Forum, Iranian officials conveyed that they are open to dialogue but also prepared for war. 

However, the U.S. and Iran continue to exchange threats as countries in the region remain wary and continue to push for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions