US-Iran updates: FM Araghchi says latest round of talks ‘a good start’

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Watch our report on how Iranian and US officials met separately with the Omani mediator here.

You can also watch our report on what Iranians are saying about the threat of war here.

This live page will be closing soon. Here are today’s top developments:

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi has landed in Doha, Qatar, after what he said were “positive” talks today in Oman.
• The US military says the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier – the centrepiece of Trump’s intensified military buildup in the Middle East – has sailed through the Arabian Sea today amid the talks in Oman.
• Qatar and Turkiye have reiterated their calls for de-escalation “through dialogue and peaceful means”.
• The US has announced new sanctions on Iranian entities, ships and two individuals, waiting only about an hour after the indirect talks in Oman ended.
• Other than that, the US has not issued any public statements on how today’s talks with Iran went.

We’ve published several new pieces of content related to US-Iran talks and regional tensions.

Here are a few highlights:

• News: Iran, US hold talks in Oman as fears of war hang over region
• Video: Iranian FM says indirect talks with US were a ‘good start’
• Analysis: Some in Israel question its influence over US amid fears of conflict
• From the ground: What are Iranians saying about the threat of war?

We brought you news moments ago of a report from Axios that said, citing two unnamed officials, that there was an in-person meeting between the participants of today’s talks in Oman, billed officially as indirect.

The Iranian Student News Agency, linked to the Iranian government, is now reporting that the supposed in-person meeting was nothing more than a formal diplomatic greeting.

It said that the talks proceeded as reported, with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi acting as intermediary.

Oil prices have settled higher, reversing earlier losses as traders worried that US-Iran talks had failed to reduce the risk of a military conflict between the two countries.

Brent crude futures settled at $68.05 a barrel, up 50 cents, or 0.74 percent, while US West Texas Intermediate crude finished up 26 cents, or 0.41 percent, at $63.55 a barrel.

“We keep going back and forth on this Iran situation,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital.

“It’s better one day, or even one hour, then worse the next. It’s status quo nervousness over Iran.”

A report by US news outlet Axios says that the American negotiating team, comprised of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met directly with Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi.

The report cites two anonymous sources “briefed on the matter”.

The talks in Oman today have been officially billed as indirect, meaning officials from both sides spoke only through an intermediary and not directly.

“The Government of Iran continues to restrict access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks,” the department has posted on X.

“Airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran. US citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Turkiye,” it stated.

Iran: Increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing. The Government of Iran continues to restrict access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks. Airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and… pic.twitter.com/JrvroDukXc

— TravelGov (@TravelGov) February 6, 2026

As we reported a short while ago, Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi has landed in the Qatari capital after what he said were “positive” talks today in Oman.

The semi-official Mehr news agency said Araghchi will deliver a speech at the Al Jazeera Forum on Saturday.

He is also expected to hold talks with his Qatari counterpart, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Qatar has played a key role in mediation efforts amid recent tensions between Washington and Tehran, alongside Egypt, Turkiye and other countries in the region.

Jean-Noel Barrot says Iran should stop being a “destabilising power”, citing its nuclear programme and support for “terrorist” groups.

During a news conference in Beirut, the French foreign minister also called on “groups supported by Iran” to exert “the utmost restraint” in the event of any military escalation involving Tehran.

As we’ve been reporting, the Trump administration has been pushing to include Iran’s support for armed groups in the region as part of today’s talks in Oman.

But Iranian leaders said the discussions should focus solely on the country’s nuclear programme.

Iran’s foreign minister said indirect talks with the US – conducted with Omani mediation – were a “good start” despite the massive mistrust between the two sides.

Watch below for the recap:

I’ve spoken to a couple of people in the last few hours, and they see a positive in the fact that both sides are still talking.

US Central Command chief Brad Cooper was there; he’s the head of the US forces in the Middle East.

It is somewhat unusual for a senior military figure to be involved in these sorts of discussions, but under Donald Trump, it has become increasingly common.

Now, if you speak to anyone in and around the White House, they will tell you that Donald Trump is very keen on a deal.

He remembers that Barack Obama got the original Iran deal. He wants to do better than that, so that’s why they’re raising things like Iran’s ballistic missile programme, which was raised at the time of the original agreement, and also the original allies and proxies, and they want those to be on the table, as well.

Now, the Iranians have said they’re not going to discuss that, but it appears there has been at least some movement towards a second discussion, which is always positive.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it hopes the discussions “will lead to a comprehensive agreement that achieves the interests of both parties and enhances security and stability in the region”.

The ministry thanked Oman for hosting and facilitating the indirect negotiations between the Iranian and US delegations.

It also renewed Qatar’s “firm support for all de-escalation efforts, resolving conflicts through diplomatic means, and bolstering peace and regional stability”.

Qatar Welcomes Negotiations Between US and Iran in the Sultanate of Oman

Doha | February 06, 2026

The State of Qatar welcomes the negotiations between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, being held in Muscat, expressing in this context its hope that… pic.twitter.com/1XxaMiJDZ5

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) February 6, 2026

The US military says the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier – the centrepiece of Trump’s intensified military buildup in the Middle East – sailed through the Arabian Sea today amid the talks in Oman.

In a statement shared on X, CENTCOM said the carrier was accompanied by two military supply ships and two US Coast Guard cutters as aircraft flew overhead.

Trump sent the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Gulf last month amid his threats to attack the country over a crackdown on antigovernment protests and his push for talks on the Iranian nuclear programme.

Gold rebounded on Friday and is set for a weekly gain, helped by bargain hunting, a slightly weaker US dollar and lingering concerns over US-Iran talks in Oman.

Spot gold rose 3.5 percent to $4,935.49 per ounce by midday US time, recouping losses during a volatile Asia session following Thursday’s 3.9 percent decline. The metal is headed for a weekly gain of about 1.4 percent.

Gold, a traditional safe haven for investors, does well in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed today’s talks in Oman, expressing hope “they will help reduce tensions and prevent a broader crisis”.

A spokesperson for Guterres said in a statement that the UN chief was “grateful to countries in the region for their efforts to help make these talks possible, and to Oman for hosting them”.

“The Secretary-General has consistently advocated for de-escalation and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter. All concerns can and should be addressed through peaceful dialogue,” the statement read.