Khamenei has given foreign minister full authority for US talks - Reuters

If US President Donald Trump’s shock announcement in the Oval Office on Wednesday that his administration was due to hold talks with Iran this weekend was a surprise, the choice of Oman as host was not.

For years, the Sultanate has supported diplomatic back-channels between the United States and Iran, and has built up a record as a credible intermediary trusted by both sides.

Explore the full story here.

A senior Iranian official said on Saturday that Iran’s delegation, led by the foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, is heading to Oman to participate in talks with the United States.

“We are departing for Muscat with a group of our most experienced colleagues, accompanying the respected Foreign Minister,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X. “We are determined to use all available capacities to safeguard Iran’s authority and national interests.”

A former Iranian foreign minister warned on Friday that any US-initiated military conflict with Iran would lead to severe and far-reaching consequences across the region and beyond.

“If America starts a war with Iran, not only will it not be able to control or end it, but it will face horrific, destabilizing consequences in the region and the entire world — extending as far as Ukraine and Taiwan,” Ali Akbar Salehi wrote on X.

Salehi, who also formerly headed Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, added: “The US must understand that negotiation is always better than war — especially today.”

The Trump administration's opening demand in talks with Iran in Oman on Saturday would be the dismantlement of its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday citing the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff at the same time acknowledged that compromises might be needed to reach a deal over the disputed nuclear program.

“I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff was quoted, addressing Iranian officials.

“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries.”

He added that “where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability."

An Iranian lawmaker appeared to threaten the United States and its Arab allies ahead of talks between Tehran and Washington, warning any "mischievous" action would incur "a very painful price."

“America is still the same America, and Trump is still the same Trump,” Iran's parliamentary national security committee spokesman, Ebrahim Rezaei said in a post on X on Friday.

“If they seek negotiations (and not coercion or bullying), we will sit at the table. But if they act mischievously and flip the table, the price will be very painful.”

He went on to list potential targets, saying: “a) perhaps an American base, b) perhaps the glass towers of their supporters, c) perhaps an oil facility servicing them, d) perhaps all of the above."