Iran said on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, that indirect Iran nuclear talks with the United States in Oman helped Tehran measure Washington’s seriousness and produced enough agreement to keep diplomacy moving.
The comments, delivered by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, followed talks last week in Muscat that were conducted through Omani mediators, according to Reuters.
The renewed contacts come amid heightened regional tension after President Donald Trump positioned a U.S. naval flotilla in the area, a move that raised concerns about possible military escalation. Iran says the Muscat session was brief and exploratory, while U.S. officials have signaled they want any diplomatic process to address more than Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran nuclear talks and what Tehran says happened in Muscat
Baghaei described the Muscat session as a way to test the other side’s intent and determine whether further negotiations were realistic. “The Muscat meeting was not a long meeting,” he said, adding that Iran viewed it as a chance to gauge the seriousness of the United States and decide how to continue on the same track, Reuters reported.
Baghaei said Iran left the meeting believing there was sufficient understanding proceeding with diplomacy. His remarks are one of Tehran’s clearest public signals since the Muscat talks that it sees value in continuing indirect engagement, even as distrust remains high and core issues have not been resolved.
Reuters reported that the Muscat discussions were held in Oman last week, with both sides using Omani mediation rather than direct talks. A separate Reuters report described the meeting as part of a revived diplomatic channel meant to avert a new conflict, especially after months of increased military posture in the region.
Larijani’s Oman visit and the role of mediators
Baghaei said a trip to Oman on Tuesday by Ali Larijani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was planned in advance and aimed at following up on regional consultations. He said Larijani would travel next to Qatar, another country that has played a mediating role in regional disputes, Reuters reported.
The trip adds another layer to the Omani channel. Reuters reported that Oman’s state news agency said Larijani and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq discussed ways to reach a “balanced and just” agreement between Iran and the United States, while stressing the importance of dialogue. Iranian state media reported the meeting lasted nearly three hours, Reuters said.
The next round of talks has not been scheduled publicly. Reuters reported that the date and venue remain undecided, leaving open questions about timing, scope, and whether the process can move from preliminary contacts to detailed bargaining.
The Associated Press also reported on Larijani’s Oman visit and said it signaled continued diplomatic engagement after the Muscat meeting, even as the broader environment remains volatile.
The agenda disputes that could shape the next round
Even with Tehran’s positive tone about continuing diplomacy, major disagreements remain on what the talks should cover. Reuters reported the United States is seeking to expand negotiations beyond the nuclear file to address Iran’s ballistic missile program, while Tehran says its missile arsenal is not negotiable.
That dispute is tied to broader bargaining positions. Reuters reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran would continue demanding the lifting of financial sanctions and would insist on nuclear rights including enrichment.
Washington’s position, as described in Reuters reporting, includes demands that Iran relinquish stockpiles of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a level that is close to weapons-grade when further enriched.
Reuters also reported that the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said on Monday that the possibility of diluting 60% enriched uranium would depend on whether all sanctions are lifted in return. Those comments suggest Iran is signaling potential flexibility on uranium issues, but only if sanctions relief is comprehensive.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said this week that President Trump would decide where the United States draws “red lines” in negotiations, Reuters reported. That statement reflects how much the process depends on political decisions at the top, even if technical teams can narrow some differences.
A balanced reading is that both sides appear to be probing for a framework without committing to concessions in public. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, while U.S. officials emphasize that enrichment can be a pathway to a weapon. The gap between those positions is likely to be central in any follow-on talks.
