A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran conveyed Iran's position to mediators in Oman and to international interlocutors monitoring the weekend discussions. U.S. officials entered the meetings seeking a broader agenda, according to American statements circulated ahead of the talks, that would address ballistic missiles, Tehran's regional proxies and its record on domestic protests. AI-generated illustrationThe refusal to halt enrichment marks a clear red line for Tehran: it insists on retaining domestic control of fuel production while offering technical constraints and verification as bargaining chips. Washington, for its part, continues to assert that Iran must be prevented from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Tehran's willingness to discuss the technical "level and purity" of enrichment opens a potential technical path to de-escalation, yet it falls far short of the U.S. demand to end enrichment on Iranian territory.

Source: The Hindu February 07, 2026 05:04 UTC