VP Vance to meet Omani foreign minister a day after Geneva talks

Delegations from Tehran and Washington met under Omani mediation for the third round of indirect talks, focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief, according to Iran’s foreign ministry.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said technical discussions would resume next week in Vienna.

While the Omani top diplomat spoke of “progress” in negotiations, US media said no breakthrough was achieved.

Iran rejected major US proposals, including transferring enriched uranium abroad, halting enrichment, and dismantling certain nuclear sites, The Wall Street Journal reported citing informed sources.

US military and political pressure continues

The talks took place amid a large US military presence in the Middle East. Shortly after the talks, CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper briefed President Donald Trump on potential options, ranging from limited strikes on nuclear and missile sites to broader operations involving Israel, carrying risks of escalation and regime change.

White House officials stressed that no decisions had yet been made.

In Washington, lawmakers signaled hardline positions. Senate Republicans posted on X that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” Representative Carlos Gimenez warned that past deals “breathed new life into the regime” and argued that extraordinary measures may be needed to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

US Vice President JD Vance, cited by The Washington Post, said the United States would avoid another prolonged Middle East war while keeping both diplomatic and military options open.

The talks coincide with domestic pressures in Iran, where universities have shifted to online-only classes amid ongoing protests. Observers say the lack of breakthroughs highlights the fragile state of the diplomatic process.

Negotiators are expected to return next week. Core disagreements over enrichment and sanctions remain, leaving the outcome uncertain as Iran continues uranium enrichment and the US maintains military readiness in the region.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the United States would not become entangled in another prolonged Middle East war, while leaving both diplomatic and military options open regarding Iran.

“The idea that we're going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight - there is no chance that will happen,” Vance cited by The Washington Post.

“I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say,” he added.

Vance also cautioned against drawing the wrong lessons from past conflicts. “I do think we have to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past,” he said, referring to the Iraq war. “I also think that we have to avoid overlearning the lessons of the past. Just because one president screwed up a military conflict doesn’t mean we can never engage in military conflict again. We’ve got to be careful about it, but I think the president is being careful.”

Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), on Thursday briefed President Trump on potential military options against Iran, with Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine present, ABC News reported.

The options reportedly range from limited strikes on ballistic missile launchers and nuclear facilities aimed at pressuring Tehran, to broader sustained operations that could involve Israel and carry risks of escalation or regime change.

“It was not clear as of Thursday that such a plan has been embraced by Trump, who is said to be growing increasingly frustrated with Iran's refusal to agree to his demands to halt uranium enrichment and cap its ballistic missile program,” the report said.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed speculation about the president’s intentions.

“The media may continue to speculate on the President's thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,” she said.

A new report by advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s shrinking public profile has not weakened his grip on power, but instead marks a shift to ruling Iran from secure underground locations through his powerful but opaque Bayt-e Rahbari (Office of the Supreme Leader).

The study says that this little-understood institution functions as the Islamic Republic’s true command center, tightly managing the country’s military, political, economic and cultural levers while the 86-year-old leader largely disappears from public view.

The recent elite reshuffles and rhetoric, including talk of shifts on the nuclear file, have fueled misleading perceptions of declining supreme leader authority, while in reality the Bayt has been “tightening its iron grip” on decision-making following the recent 12‑day conflict, the report said.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday urged against any sanctions relief for Iran, saying funds provided to Tehran would fuel its proxy groups and ballistic missile program rather than benefit its people.

“We can’t allow any sanctions relief for Iran. Any money the regime receives won’t relieve their people. It will go directly to their terror proxies and ballistic missile program,” Haley posted on X.