Following intervention by Arab countries and pressure from several US allies, negotiations between the United States and Iran are now expected to proceed this Friday, after a brief crisis that led to their postponement.
A US source told Axios that several Arab and Muslim leaders were involved in encouraging Washington to go ahead with the meeting. “They asked us to hold the meeting and listen to what the Iranians have to say. We told the Arabs we would hold the meeting if they insisted. But we are very skeptical,” the official said. A second US official added that the Trump administration agreed to the meeting “out of respect” for US allies in the region and “in order to continue advancing the diplomatic track.”
Earlier, as tensions surrounding the negotiations reached a boiling point, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “should be very worried.”
Trump added that protesters in Iran have American backing. “Their country is in chaos right now. We destroyed their nuclear sites. We want peace in the Middle East,” Trump said. “If we had not destroyed the nuclear program, there would be no peace in the Middle East, because Arab countries could not have done it. They were afraid of Iran. They are not afraid of Iran anymore.”
According to The New York Times report in today, ballistic missiles and support for terrorist organizations will also be on the table in Oman. Tehran presented its own demand, fearing Trump would stage a “show.”
As President Trump persists in exerting pressure on Iran, it appears that engaging in some form of dialogue is preferable to having no discussions whatsoever. Iran might believe that certain topics, such as ballistic missiles, financing terrorist organizations in the region, and the treatment of their own citizens, should not be on the agenda; however, they should be aware that the opposing side will not overlook these matters and may, in fact, adhere to some red lines. The results of the meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, remain to be seen.
Source:
US–Iran talks to go ahead after Arab intervention, by ILH Staff, February 4, 2026