Iran was notified ahead of Witkoff, Kushner visit to US aircraft carrier – report |
Iran and Oman were reportedly told in advance that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would visit the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday.
CNN on Sunday reported that Tehran and Muscat got advance notice of the visit — a move that apparently signaled the persistent threat of US military action against Iran if it did not agree to a deal to curb their nuclear program.
According to Channel 12, Tehran was notified before the visit so that the Iranians would not be angered if caught unaware.
Witkoff and Kushner, who led the US delegation’s talks with Iran in Oman on Friday, visited the aircraft carrier at the invitation of the US Central Command chief, Adm. Brad Cooper.
The United States and Iran reopened negotiations after the previous nuclear talks between the two countries were suspended due to Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, which ended with a US strike on several Iranian nuclear sites.
Western countries suspect Iran is seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb. Iran has denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. Prior to the June war, Israel said Iran had recently taken steps toward weaponization.
The threat of war continues to hover over the negotiations, even as Trump called the talks “very good” and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that they “constitute a step forward.” Iran has repeatedly ruled out accepting Washington’s key demand that it give up uranium enrichment.
Following Friday’s first round in Oman, Trump signed an executive order calling for the “imposition of tariffs” on countries still doing business with Iran despite US sanctions.
The US also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.
In a clear warning against military action, a new billboard overlooking Tehran’s Palestine Square,........