Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (left), who visited Oman for nuclear talks with the United States, is on his way to the meeting venue. [Yonhap News] 

The United States and Iran resumed negotiations in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on February 6 (local time) to discuss Iran's nuclear program. This marks eight months since the talks were suspended in June last year, following successive airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States.

According to AFP, IRNA, and other news agencies, the talks between the delegations of the two countries began around 10 a.m. on the day in Muscat and continued for about eight hours until 6 p.m., with several breaks.

Steve Wictor, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs at the White House, and Jared Kushner, the eldest son-in-law of President Donald Trump, attended on the U.S. side. Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, represented Iran.

Photos released by Omani media show that Brad Cooper, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, was also spotted at the meeting venue.

The meeting was held indirectly, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi shuttling between the two sides to convey messages, rather than direct face-to-face talks between the U.S. and Iranian representatives. Last year's negotiations between the two countries also involved indirect talks with Oman acting as a mediator.

Araghchi told reporters after the talks concluded, "The positions of both sides, which had been disconnected for a long time, were conveyed in a very positive atmosphere," and he assessed it as "a good start."

Araghchi stated that both sides agreed on holding follow-up meetings, adding, "The timing, method, and schedule will be determined through Minister Albusaidi."

There were no immediate public statements from the U.S. delegation. Instead, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against 15 entities, 2 individuals, and 14 vessels involved in the illicit trade of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, maintaining pressure on Iran.

On February 6 (local time), U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wictor (center) and Jared Kushner (left) of the U.S. delegation, who visited Oman for nuclear talks with the U.S., are welcomed by Omani officials. [Yonhap News] 

The United States had been pressuring Iran to resume nuclear negotiations, hinting at the possibility of military intervention following the anti-government protests that began in Iran in December.

The biggest point of contention in this round of talks is Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

The U.S. demands that Iran completely abandon uranium enrichment, a demand Iran strongly rejects as a matter of sovereignty. Iran insists on continuing uranium enrichment activities, even if it's done with the participation of a third country in the Middle East.

The U.S. also wishes to address Iran's ballistic missile development program and its support for proxy armed groups in the region, in addition to its nuclear program, during the negotiations.

On February 4, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, "For the dialogue to lead to meaningful results, ballistic missile range, support for terrorist organizations in the region, the nuclear program, and the treatment of their own citizens must be included (as negotiation agendas)."

Iran, facing threats to the stability of its Islamic theocratic system due to the aftermath of anti-government protests, has agreed to dialogue. However, it has drawn a line, stating that no defense or security matters other than its nuclear program can be part of the negotiation agenda.

Initially, the meeting was planned to be held in Istanbul, Turkey. However, Iran requested a change to Muscat just before the meeting. Iran also insisted that the meeting should be between the U.S. and Iran alone, excluding officials from neighboring countries in the Middle East, which nearly caused the talks to collapse.

Before the meeting began, Araghchi posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Iran will approach diplomacy with a firm memory of the past year," and added, "We will definitively assert our rights."

He further emphasized that "equal status, mutual respect, and mutual interests must be upheld as essential conditions," indicating that unilateral concessions would not be accepted.

On February 6 (local time), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (left) and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi are in conversation, having met in Oman for nuclear talks with the U.S. [Yonhap News]