Muscat talks end as Iran hails ‘good start’ with US

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Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians in Hebron, causing several to suffer from smoke inhalation, after raiding the town, Wafa reports.

The soldiers forced shopkeepers to close their stores and beat a young man.

Israeli forces banned a Palestinian man from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied West Bank city of Jerusalem.

Israeli forces handed a Palestinian man an order that he is banned from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week and had to reappear at the end of the week, where the order could be renewed.

A Palestinian teen was injured after Israeli forces opened fire in al-Eizariya town, east of the occupied West Bank city of Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate, Wafa reports.

A 15-year-old was injured after being shot in the thigh after Israeli forces invaded the town and opened fire towards a group of minors near Israel’s apartheid wall.

Israeli forces initially prevented residents and medics from approaching the scene. 

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday imposing secondary tariffs on any country that imports goods from Iran, the White House said. 

Israel's Olympic team walked into the stadium during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday to a smattering of boos, while US Vice President JD Vance received a similar reception at what had otherwise been an upbeat and festive celebration of the global winter sports extravaganza.

The four-person Israeli delegation, waving the country's flag and smiling, marched into the San Siro stadium during the parade of participating countries, with the boos quickly drowned out by the loud soundtrack.

In Cortina d'Ampezzo, where a simultaneous parade was held for athletes located in the mountain cluster, the US team were cheered loudly, and Israel's athletes also earned some cheers.

In Predazzo, the site of the ski jumping venue, there were some boos for the Israeli team.

Israeli athletes said prior to the opening ceremony, they were prepared for a potentially hostile reception following the war in Gaza.

A Palestinian man was injured after Israeli forces opened fire in the Sa'ir town, northeast of Hebron, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

A 20-year-old was treated after sustaining injury by shrapnel from Israeli fire after the forces raided the town, shot at residents and fired tear gas canisters.

A large fire broke out on Friday in a carpentry workshop inside a military base in eastern Tehran, with smoke visible across the Iranian capital, but firefighters managed to put out the blaze, and there were no injuries, Iranian news agencies reported.

The semi-official news agency Mehr said the workshop was located in a military complex linked to Iran's military joint staff, without giving details.

State-affiliated Nour News said the fire had led to "widespread publication of photos from eastern Tehran on social media under the title of 'explosion in Tehran'".

Fires and explosions in Iran have often provoked fears of possible attacks by Israel or the United States, after Israel attacked Iran in a 12-day air war in June, which the United States briefly joined, pounding key nuclear installations and killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. 

Iran-backed groups in the Middle East should exercise the "greatest restraint" if there is a regional escalation between Iran and the United States to avoid destabilising the region, France's foreign minister said Friday.

Jean-Noël Barrot made his comments in Beirut, where he arrived earlier in the day after visiting Syria and Iraq. His visit also comes as the U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Oman on how to approach discussions over Tehran's nuclear program.

There have been concerns in the region that if the United States attacks Iran, Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon could join the war, worsening the situation.

"If, however, we witness a regional escalation, it would be appropriate for groups supported by Iran to exercise the greatest restraint in the whole region so as not to worsen a situation," Barrot said after holding talks with Lebanese leaders. "That would profoundly destabilise the Near and Middle East," he warned.

He added that a military escalation in the region is a risk that must be avoided at all costs, adding that it is neither in the interest of the countries in the region nor in the interests of France.

Israeli forces detained three Palestinians from the occupied West Bank governorates of Salfit and Hebron, Wafa reports.

The forces raided the Deit Ballout town and detained two residents, including the head of the Village Council, Samir Qar‘ush. At the same time, Israeli forces also did the same in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, stormed houses and detained a Palestinian.

UN peacekeepers patrolling southern Lebanon have faced a dramatic surge of "aggressive behaviour" by Israeli forces over the last year, including drone-dropped grenades and machine-gun fire, according to an internal report seen by The Associated Press.

The report from one of the 48 nations that together have more than 7,500 peacekeepers in southern Lebanon says the number of incidents jumped from 1 in January to 27 in December. The hilly frontier zone where the UNIFIL force patrols has seen decades of cross-border violence. Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants fought a full-scale war in 2024.

The targeting of peacekeepers appears aimed at undermining the international force and strengthening Israel's military footprint along the UN-drawn border with Lebanon, known as the Blue Line, the report alleges. It was shared with AP on condition that the news organisation not identify the country whose peacekeepers compiled the findings for internal use by their senior command.

Israel has long mistrusted UNIFIL, accusing it of failing to prevent Hezbollah from building up its military presence along the border in violation of ceasefire agreements going back two decades.

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in northern Gaza, and another woman was injured in central Gaza, despite a ceasefire being in place.

Israeli forces detained two Palestinian journalists after passing through the Ein Siniya military checkpoint, north of Ramallah.

Bushra Al-Tawil was detained shortly after her interrogation was cancelled and transferred to the "Russian" detention centre in occupied Jerusalem. The journalist was released following the prisoner exchange from the ceasefire agreement after spending years in an Israeli prison.

While Hatem Hamdan was detained after Israeli forces stopped and searched his car, he was transferred to an Israeli police station.

Iran has rejected US calls to halt uranium enrichment on its territory during talks in Oman on Friday, a regional diplomat briefed by Tehran told Reuters, but said it was willing to discuss the "level and purity" of enrichment or a regional consortium.

The diplomat added that Tehran believed the US negotiators "seemed to understand Iran's stance on the enrichment...and they showed flexibility about Tehran's demands".

He added that Iran's missile capabilities were not discussed during the talks in Muscat.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during a visit to Lebanon that Iran should stop being a "destabilising power", citing its nuclear programme and support for "terrorist" groups that threaten regional and European countries.

During a press conference in Beirut, where the government has committed to disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, Barrot also called on "groups supported by Iran" to exert "the utmost restraint" in the event of any military escalation involving the Islamic republic.

A flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists who attempted to reach Gaza last year will set sail for the besieged territory again next month, one member told AFP news agency on Friday.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said the new mission set for March 29 would be "the largest coordinated humanitarian intervention for Palestine in history" and will mobilise "thousands from over 100 countries".

"We will be sailing from Barcelona, Tunis, Italy and many other ports not yet made public," Brazilian activist Thiago Avila told AFP.

The group said an overland convoy would also leave for Gaza on the same day, without specifying from where.

The campaigners sought to break an Israeli blockade by delivering aid to Gaza by sea last October, before they were intercepted by Israel, detained and deported.

Israel controls Gaza's borders and scrutinises all aid coming into the territory.

The activists describe their actions as a "non-violent response to genocide, siege, mass starvation, and the destruction of civilian life in Gaza".

Lebanon's Hezbollah accepted the resignation on Friday of senior security official Wafiq Safa, the first time an official of his rank has stepped down, sources familiar with the group's thinking told Reuters news agency.

Safa, who heads Hezbollah's liaison and coordination unit responsible for working with Lebanese security agencies, survived an Israeli assassination attempt in October 2024.

The United States is sanctioning 15 entities and 14 shadow fleet vessels connected to the illicit trade in Iranian petroleum, petroleum products and petrochemical products, the State Department said on Friday.

Former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of submitting a “fabricated” and “manipulative” response to the state comptroller’s investigation into the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack.

In a letter to Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, Eisenkot said Netanyahu selectively used confidential cabinet records to deflect blame and gain political advantage, calling for full disclosure of the meeting minutes cited by the prime minister.

• Iran and the US held indirect talks in Muscat

• Iran says talks focused only on the nuclear programme

• Tehran rejected expanding talks to missiles or militias

• First talks since June 2025 conflict involving the US

• Discussions held amid rising regional tensions

Israeli air force jets struck a building in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood on Friday, following an earlier evacuation warning issued by the Israeli military, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The outlet cited footage showing an airstrike hitting a house in the area after residents had been ordered to leave earlier in the day.

The Israeli army said the strikes were carried out in response to a “ceasefire violation” on Thursday, when shots were fired towards Israeli troops near the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip.

According to the military, the operation targeted a structure allegedly used by Hamas to manufacture weapons, as well as a weapons storage facility.

Israeli forces said the strikes were conducted in line with international law and the principles of distinction and proportionality, adding that precautions were taken, including advance warnings, and that the attack was carried out only after determining that no civilians were present near what it described as “terror infrastructure”.

Iran has prioritised repairing damaged ballistic missile facilities over rebuilding key nuclear sites following Israeli and US strikes last year, according to New York Times on Friday.

Citing analysis of satellite imagery published in Friday's report, NYT reviewed satellite images of around two dozen sites hit during the 12-day conflict in June 2025, finding visible construction activity at more than half of them.

Repairs at several missile-related facilities began shortly after the strikes, while damage at major nuclear sites appears largely unrepaired and remains visible above ground.

The findings come as the US increases its military presence in the region and as Washington and Tehran held talks in Oman aimed at preventing further escalation. 

According to the US outlet, satellite imagery shows repair work at at least a dozen missile facilities, including production and testing sites. Intelligence assessments cited by NYT suggest Iran has largely restored its ballistic missile capabilities since the June attacks.

John P. Caves III of the US National Defence University told the Times that missile threats against Israel and US bases in the region represent one of Iran’s few remaining options to deter renewed strikes on its nuclear facilities.

By contrast, experts say Iran’s three main uranium enrichment sites- Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo- appear to remain inoperative. Western and Israeli officials have seen little evidence that Iran has regained the capacity to enrich uranium or develop a nuclear warhead. While recent images show limited repairs and new roofing at some locations, much of the destruction is still evident.

The Times also identified new fortifications at underground tunnel complexes near Isfahan and Natanz, as well as recent construction at the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran, a site previously linked to high-explosives testing relevant to nuclear weapons development.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat have concluded with a mutual understanding to continue dialogue.

In a post on X, Baghaei said the round of negotiations allowed both sides to present and clarify their positions and demands. He added that, following consultations with their respective capitals, the timing and format of the next round of talks would be decided.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the discussions were focused on overcoming a lack of trust created by the war and were now in a confidence-building phase. He added that if the current path continues, it could lead to a solid framework for an agreement.

Araghchi said several rounds of indirect negotiations were held in a positive atmosphere, during which both sides shared their concerns and views. He said the delegations were returning to their capitals, with agreement in place to continue talks, while the location and timing of the next round would be finalised later.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency also reported that the latest round of Muscat talks had ended, noting that Iranian and US delegations exchanged views, assessments and approaches via Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi. IRNA added that both sides have expressed a desire to continue negotiations in the coming period.

Gold prices gained on Friday, rebounding from a sharp selloff in the previous session, as global equities fell and U.S.-Iran tensions lingered, while the CME Group raised margins on precious metals to counter risk.

Spot gold rose 2.6% to $4,893.59 per ounce by 1243 GMT, and U.S. gold futures for April delivery gained 0.5% to $4,914.10 per ounce.

"I do see a bit of a safe-haven investment coming in, but bear in mind that there is still some caution after last Friday's selloff... we still have this fear about Iran-U.S. tension that is still intact," said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst at OANDA.

"It's going to be a very near-term choppy price movement for gold between $5,169, which is the key short-term resistance, and the key short-term support at the $4,400 level."

Iran and the U.S. began high-stakes negotiations in Oman on Friday regarding Tehran's nuclear programme.

A global stock rout on Wall Street spilled into Asia on Friday, leaving many regional benchmarks in the red.

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

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said “intensive” discussions are under way over Iran, warning that concerns among regional leaders are “very, very high” as he concluded a three-day tour of the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Merz urged Tehran to return to negotiations with the United States and to end its nuclear programme.

He said intensive diplomatic efforts were focused on persuading Iran to halt violence against its own people, abandon its nuclear ambitions, and rejoin talks aimed at securing peace and stability across the region.

Merz added that leaders in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi were working closely with Washington to push Iran’s leadership to return to the negotiating table.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that Tehran is demanding “concrete guarantees” to ensure the full lifting of economic and financial sanctions as part of the ongoing Iran–US negotiations in Muscat.

This follows reporting by al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister site, which cited an informed Iranian source as saying that, contrary to media speculation, the presence of CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper in the US delegation does not affect the talks, which have remained indirect throughout.

The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported, citing a source, that the second round of talks between the Iranian delegation and the Omani side has concluded, and that the Omani foreign minister is now meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry said talks with Iran and the United States focused on laying the groundwork for the resumption of diplomatic and technical negotiations.

In a post on X, the ministry said the discussions aimed to prepare the appropriate conditions, reflecting the parties’ determination to ensure the success of efforts to achieve lasting security and stability.

📸 | في إطار استضافة سلطنة عُمان لمفاوضات الملف النووي الإيراني، أجرى معالي السيد بدر بن حمد البوسعيدي @badralbusaidi وزير الخارجية، صباح اليوم مشاورات منفصلة مع كلٍّ من الوفد الإيراني برئاسة معالي الدكتور سيد عباس عراقجي، ومع الوفد الأمريكي برئاسة ستيف ويتكوف، المبعوث الخاص… pic.twitter.com/FxvS8C9TkV

— وزارة الخارجية (@FMofOman) February 6, 2026

Iran’s ISNA news agency reported that the Iranian foreign minister has once again met his Omani counterpart, Badr Al Busaidi.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television said negotiations remain under way, with its correspondent in Muscat noting that, because the talks are being held indirectly, delegations are moving back and forth between locations.

The broadcaster added that the Iranian delegation travelled to the negotiations headquarters to begin the second round after concluding the first round with the Omani foreign minister, while the American side remained at the venue.

The correspondent said available indications suggest the nuclear negotiations may have entered a substantive phase.

Lebanon's army must be given the means to disarm militant group Hezbollah, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP news agency ahead of his expected arrival in Beirut on Friday.

"France's vision for Lebanon is that of a strong, sovereign state holding a monopoly on arms," he said.

"The first step to fulfil this mission is to give the Lebanese Armed Forces the means to continue the work of disarming Hezbollah," added the minister, whose country will host a conference in support of the Lebanese army on March 5.

Hezbollah emerged weakened from its latest war with Israel, which ended in a November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

In line with the agreement, the Lebanese army announced in January that it had completed the first phase of a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area between the Litani River and the Israeli border about thirty kilometres (20 miles) south.

"The Lebanese government has shouldered its responsibilities by launching and carrying through to completion the first phase of this disarmament plan," Barrot said.

"The second phase must now begin, and the plan associated with this phase is to be presented in the coming days, and in any case before the conference is held," he continued.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented an “initial framework and proposed plan” from Tehran during his first meeting with his Omani counterpart, outlining Iran’s approach to managing the current phase of relations with the United States and advancing the negotiation process.

According to the agency, the proposal was conveyed by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi to Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, adding that the American delegation in Muscat had concluded its review of the plan just minutes earlier.

Under the announced arrangements, Araghchi and his accompanying delegation travelled to the negotiation venue at 1:30pm Muscat time to begin the second round of talks with the US side.

Russia has welcomed the Muscat negotiations and said it hopes they will lead to de-escalation, as the talks appear to be nearing their conclusion.

The Kremlin urged all sides to show restraint, voicing support for the Oman-hosted discussions and expressing hope that they would ease tensions.

A convoy believed to be carrying American officials has been seen leaving the site of the Iran–US talks in Muscat, raising indications that the discussions may have concluded.

The vehicles were observed departing the venue in the Omani capital where mediated negotiations between Iran and the United States had been taking place.

US envoy Steve Witkoff is now holding talks with Omani mediators as negotiations get under way in Muscat, according to multiple reports.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency and state television said Witkoff has begun discussions with Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

The Associated Press reported that its journalists saw a US convoy enter a palace on the outskirts of Muscat near the international airport, a venue that previously hosted mediated Iran–US talks last year. One of the vehicles was reportedly flying US flags.

Earlier, Oman’s top diplomat met Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, ahead of the start of the talks.

Iranian media report that talks have now begun between Oman’s foreign minister and US envoy Steve Witkoff.

 

 

 

 

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The head of US Central Command has reportedly joined the American delegation as indirect talks in Muscat get under way.

The most senior US military commander in the region is understood to be present in Oman, where negotiations have now begun.

Flight-tracking data shows a US Air Force aircraft used to transport senior commanders landing in Muscat earlier today.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed senior US official, reported that the US delegation would include Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper.

After a nearly two-hour delay, indirect talks between the US and Iranian delegations finally began in Muscat on Friday.

Iran's FM held a last-minute meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, shortly before US and Iranian officials began negotiations,

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has made a call for "mutual respect" as he prepares for talks with the US in Muscat.

He said his team was approaching the talks with "good faith" but will also "stand firm on our rights".

Iran enters diplomacy with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year.
We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights.

Commitments need to be honored. Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual interest are not rhetoric—they are a must and the pillars of a durable…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) February 6, 2026

US officials again warned citizens this week to leave Iran, just as crunch talks between Washington and Tehran were set to begin in Muscat.

The US Virtual Embassy in Iran issued a statement on Friday telling nationals in Iran to get out of the country if they can, and not to head to a secure location and stock up on food and essentials.

It appears to be the same warning issued last month, during a crackdown on protests, leading to the apparent threat of US strikes in the country.

The US State Department has a Level 4 travel advisory for Iran, warning against all travel to the country.

The US has had no active embassy in Tehran since shortly after the revolution that overthrew its ally, the Shah of Iran.

The US-Iran talks are a relief for the region, after it appeared that the two sides were heading for war over differences on Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme, as well as a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters in Iran.

Gulf states and Turkey have been attempting to find a way out of the crisis, which threatens to engulf the whole region, with Istanbul hosting talks last week.

The US and Iran agreed to talks in Turkey, but shifted location to more neutral Oman after objections from Tehran.

Iran has signalled that the talks will focus solely on its nuclear programme, while the US insists it will be more comprehensive, addressing Tehran's ballistic missile programme, its regional proxy force, as well as the crackdown on protesters that killed thousands.

Talks were due to commence at 10am local time, but soon after this time passed, Iranian media reported a delayed start.

It is now believed negotiations will begin between 10am and 11am, according to Al Jazeera. 

Abbas Araghchi is reportedly holding talks with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi before meeting his US counterpart.