First modification: 02/06/2026 - 12:51 Last modification: 02/06/2026 - 20:48
The US State Department imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic this Friday, February 6, affecting 14 vessels in the Iranian "ghost fleet", 15 entities and two individuals associated with Tehran's oil marketing. The announcement comes shortly after a round of indirect negotiations between the two sides, mediated by Oman, concluded. A diplomat, quoted by Reuters, assured that during the meeting the Islamic Republic rejected the US demand to stop uranium enrichment.
The essentials:
The US State Department announced new sanctions to curb Iranian oil exports.
The announcement came after Washington's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, held indirect negotiations with the Iranian side, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi, with the mediation of the authorities of Oman, the country that hosted the meeting.
During the meeting, Iran rejected the US demand to stop uranium enrichment, a diplomat told the Reuters news agency.
At the end of the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqhchi, assured that it was "a good start" and that the talks will continue.
Araqchi had anticipated that his country was thus beginning nuclear negotiations in “good faith” and called for mutual respect, just before the start of the talks.
This week Tehran warned that it hoped to focus the talks only on its nuclear program and not address its missile capabilities, which it defined as a “red line” that it is not willing to negotiate.
Below, the main news from Iran this February 6, in the midst of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman:
Iran dismisses US demand to stop uranium enrichment during meeting in Oman
Iran rejected US requests to stop uranium enrichment on its territory during talks held this Friday in Oman, a regional diplomat informed by Tehran told the Reuters news agency, but said it was willing to discuss the "level and purity" of enrichment or the creation of a regional consortium.
The diplomat noted that the Islamic Republic believed that American negotiators "appeared to understand Iran's position on enrichment (...) and were flexible to Tehran's demands."
He added that Iran's missile capabilities were not addressed during the talks in Muscat.
US sanctions 15 entities and 14 vessels for trading Iranian oil
The United States sanctions 15 entities and 14 ghost fleet vessels related to the illicit trade in Iranian oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals, the State Department reported Friday.
Iran: Talks with US in Oman were a 'good start' and will continue
"It was a good start to the negotiations. There is an understanding on the continuation of the talks. Coordination on how to proceed will be decided in the capitals," Minister Abbas Araqchi declared on Iranian state television, after a round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington concluded this Friday, with the mediation of Oman, the country that hosted the meeting.
"If this process continues, I think we will reach a good framework for an understanding," Araqchi added.
Officials from both sides are now returning to their countries for consultations with their respective governments, the Iranian foreign minister said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Says U.S.-Iran Talks Over 'For Now'
China denounces 'unilateral intimidation' ahead of Iran-US talks
China affirmed that it supports Iran in the defense of its interests and opposes "unilateral intimidation", in reference to the talks between Tehran and Washington, which the Islamic Republic seeks to focus only on its nuclear program and which began this Friday.
China "supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, national dignity and legitimate rights and interests," according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, which added that it "opposes unilateral intimidation."
Vice Foreign Ministers Miao Deyu and Kazem Gharibabadi met in Beijing on Thursday, where the Iranian diplomat briefed Miao on the internal situation in his country.
Nuclear program, ballistic missiles and 'Axis of Resistance': US and Iran meet far from common ground
Although last-minute diplomacy managed to save the meeting on Friday, February 6, Washington and Tehran come to the table with very distant positions. While the Islamic Republic has shown itself willing to engage in dialogue on its nuclear program tied to the possible lifting of sanctions, Donald Trump's Administration seeks to discuss missile development, Iranian support for regional groups and the brutal repression of the latest protests, issues that Iran is not willing to address.
Kremlin signals hope for results from US-Iran talks in Oman
The Russian Government declared this Friday that it hopes that the negotiations between Iran and the United States in Oman will yield results and lead to a de-escalation. Meanwhile, he urged all parties to show restraint.
Washington and Tehran began important negotiations on February 6 to try to overcome their deep differences. Tehran seeks to focus the talks only on nuclear matters, although the US indicated this week that it hoped to expand the agenda of the talks, including the so-called 'Axis of Resistance' and the Iranian ballistic missile program, something that the Islamic Republic drew as a "red line" that it is not willing to negotiate.
Oman confirms its mediation in indirect talks between Iran and the US
Oman said Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi met separately with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and later with the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
“The consultations focused on preparing the appropriate circumstances to resume diplomatic and technical negotiations, ensuring the importance of these negotiations, in light of the parties' determination to ensure their success in achieving sustainable security and stability,” said a statement from the Omani Foreign Ministry.
What are Iran's ballistic capabilities?: Tehran's "red line" ahead of the meeting with the US
The parties emphasize the intention to de-escalate tensions, amid the naval deployment ordered by Donald Trump in the Middle East, but Tehran warns that it will not make concessions on its ballistic missiles.
A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled weapon that can be guided during its initial ascent, before following a free fall trajectory under the influence of gravity. Their warheads can contain conventional explosives or biological, chemical or nuclear munitions and can reach short or intercontinental distances, depending on the type of missile.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has identified some long-range missiles in Iran's possession, including the Sejil, Ghadr and Khorramshahr, all three with a range of up to 2,000 km; the Emad, 1,700 km; or the Hoveyzeh, 1,350 km. The semi-official Iranian media ISNA published a graph of Iranian ballistic capabilities in April 2025, in which it gave a range of 2,500 km to the Sejil missile.
The arsenal of ballistic missiles—which is not necessarily linked to nuclear proliferation—gives Iran the ability to attack "enemies" thousands of kilometers away, which has increased the fears of the international community about the possibility that Tehran develops nuclear weapons that it can attach to these missiles, a hypothesis that the Islamic republic has flatly denied.
Iran and the United States begin key talks in Oman
Iran and the United States began important negotiations on Friday through Omani mediation. Tehran warned that the talks should focus only on nuclear matters and that it would not address its ballistic missile program, a "red line" that it said it was not willing to negotiate.
Washington wants to expand talks to cover Iranian ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region and the treatment of its own people, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared last Wednesday, February 4.
The US delegation is led by the envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushern, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. On Iran's side, the team is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Welcome to this minute by minute with the main news of the indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, in Oman, in the midst of an escalation of tensions.
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