February 6, 2026 has the feel of a turning point — not because the United States and Iran suddenly became friends, but because two sworn rivals chose diplomacy at the very moment when the logic of escalation was gaining speed. In Muscat, Oman, with anxiety rising across capitals from Tel Aviv to Beijing, the world watched an extraordinary scene: U.S. and Iranian delegations meeting under Omani mediation to test whether a negotiated path still exists before the region is pushed into another cycle of strikes, retaliation, and economic shock.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi came out of the talks calling them a “good start,” and — crucially — confirming that the process will continue after consultations in both capitals. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, described the discussions as “very serious” and stressed that outcomes would be weighed carefully in Tehran and Washington before the next steps are set. That language matters. It signals that neither side wanted a theatrical meeting designed to fail; both treated it as a controlled opening whose survival depends on disciplined messaging and political authorization at home.

Araqchi’s public framing was unusually calm for this relationship. He insisted that “any dialogue requires refraining from threats and pressure” and drew a sharp boundary around the agenda: Iran will discuss its nuclear issue — and nothing else — with the United States. That insistence is not a negotiating flourish; it is Iran’s strategic doctrine in diplomatic form. Tehran wants a narrow, technical bargain that can translate into sanctions relief, without turning the table into a referendum on Iran’s missiles, its regional posture, or its internal politics.

Washington, by contrast, has signaled a broader ambition. Publicly, U.S. officials have voiced interest in a framework that reaches beyond the nuclear file to Iran’s ballistic........

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