President Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as nuclear talks are scheduled to take place on Friday in Muscat, Oman. The negotiations, aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, come amid months of escalating tensions, including a large US military buildup in the region and reports of new Iranian nuclear sites. Trump has declined to rule out military action, warning that Iran could face severe consequences if it pursues additional nuclear capabilities. He also expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution, noting that negotiations remain ongoing despite last-minute disputes over the venue and format.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the talks would proceed as planned, praising Oman for arranging the meeting. However, Iranian officials have insisted that discussions focus solely on nuclear issues, while US representatives, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have sought to address broader concerns, including Iran’s treatment of its own citizens during widespread protests. Tehran’s insistence on limiting the scope of talks and relocating the venue briefly threatened to cancel the meetings, though pressure from multiple Middle Eastern nations helped secure the sessions.
The talks come against a backdrop of intense internal unrest in Iran. Since December, tens of thousands have been killed in protests, with the Iranian regime acknowledging several thousand deaths while independent sources suggest the toll may be far higher. Security forces have used lethal force, including reports of armoured vehicles ramming protesters, and the government continues to impose an internet and communications blackout. Human rights activists, including Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, are facing harsh imprisonment and hunger strikes in protest of unlawful detention.
Tensions in the Gulf remain high. Last week, a US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln, while Iranian gunboats reportedly threatened a US-flagged oil tanker. Trump’s warnings follow previous military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and continue his administration’s strategy of combining pressure on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions with support for domestic protesters. Analysts caution that the combination of diplomatic talks, military posturing, and domestic unrest makes the outcome of Friday’s negotiations highly uncertain, with potential repercussions for regional stability and US-Iran relations.
