Steve Witkoff, the US President's envoy to the Middle East, visited on Saturday the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which is stationed in the region with a naval strike force after Trump threatened to launch military action against Iran. The visit came the day after "indirect" negotiations between the two countries in Muscat, after which Tehran expressed its hope to resume them, but insisted on its "red lines", especially its ballistic missile program.

Published on: 02/07/2026 - 22:38

Steve Witkoff, who leads the American delegation negotiating with Iran, on Saturday visited the aircraft carrier that Trump sent to the Middle East following his threat of military intervention against Tehran, ahead of an expected second round of discussions between the two sides.

Witkoff said in a post on the

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The delegations of Washington and Tehran held discussions on Friday in Muscat, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed his hope on Saturday that they would resume soon. But he warned that his country was ready to strike American bases in the region if they were attacked by the United States.

The "indirect" negotiations in Muscat are the first since Washington in June launched strikes on major Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war started by Tel Aviv.

A second round of negotiations soon?

After the end of the negotiating round, Trump praised the "very good" talks, while Araqchi spoke of a "very positive atmosphere."

Read also: Trump praises “very good” talks with Iran in Amman and announces that they will continue next week

On Saturday, according to excerpts from an interview with Al Jazeera published on his official channel on the Telegram application, Araqchi indicated a “good start.” He said: “At the present time, no specific date has been set for the second round of negotiations, but we and Washington believe that these negotiations should be held soon.”

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Trump announced on Friday that the two sides would meet again "early next week."

Axios had quoted two sources as saying that direct discussions took place between Araqchi, Witkoff, and Kushner.

The Iranian Foreign Minister believed that "there is still a long way to build confidence," adding that "the Iranian nuclear issue will not be resolved except through negotiations." He said: “We are ready for an agreement that provides reassurance regarding enrichment” of uranium by reducing its rate.

What are the "red lines" for Iran?

The Muscat talks came in the wake of Washington's threats to launch a military strike against Iran, which began against the backdrop of the suppression of the widespread protests that the country witnessed, resulting in thousands of deaths.

But Araqchi reiterated that his country refuses to discuss its ballistic missile program, and said, "This is a purely defensive issue for us, which cannot be negotiated at all."

Read also: Iran announces agreement with the United States to continue negotiations after a “positive” tour in Oman

He indicated on Friday that "the discussions focus exclusively on the nuclear file," while Washington stresses the need to also address ballistic missiles and Iran's support for armed organizations in the region.

Media reports reported that the Hebrew state pressed to include these two items on the negotiating agenda.

On Saturday evening, Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would meet Trump on Wednesday in Washington to discuss negotiations with Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that it "estimates that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and freezing support for the Iranian axis."

Likewise, Iran's Foreign Minister attacked Tel Aviv in front of the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar on Saturday, denouncing the "hegemonic doctrine" that, according to him, allows it to expand its military arsenal while exerting pressure on other countries in the region to disarm.

Araqchi said: “Israel’s expansionist project requires weakening neighboring countries, militarily, technologically, economically and socially.”

France 24/AFP

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