Indirect talks between US and Iranian representatives in Muscat, Oman, on Friday ended positively, with officials from both countries saying the talks went very well.

US President Donald Trump has said that talks with Iran are positive. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that the talks have started very well. In an interview with Iranian television, he said that the US should continue to reduce mistrust with Iran. 

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi met separately with Iranian and US officials in Muscat on Friday. He tried to mediate by conveying each side's messages. According to Iranian media, Araghchi presented al-Busaidi with an initial plan to manage the current crisis. Iran's top diplomat told Al Jazeera that the talks with the US are focused on Iran's nuclear program. 

Similarly, US Envoy for the Middle East and Asia, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met al-Busaidi. Photos released by Oman's state news agency show Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), also attending the meetings. 

The two countries held five rounds of nuclear talks before the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June. Omani mediators also facilitated meetings between US and Iranian delegations at that time. However, after the war broke out, Washington attacked key Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran responded by attacking a US air base in Qatar. 

All these activities created a situation of lack of communication between the two countries. In October, Trump once again invited Iran to talks. Addressing the Israeli parliament, he said that the US would talk if Iran was ready. This time, Iran is ready for talks with the deployment of its warships in the Middle East. Trump has been continuously warning Iran along with his nuclear talks efforts. "It will be very difficult if Iran does not compromise on its nuclear program," he said. 

Talks on uranium enrichment stalled 

All previous talks between Iran and the Trump administration have stalled on the issue of uranium enrichment. The Trump administration has been demanding that Iran completely end its uranium enrichment activities. Iran is ready to limit uranium enrichment. But not to reduce it to zero. Iran had expressed its desire to move forward in accordance with the 2015 nuclear deal. 

The agreement, which was signed in Vienna, Austria, was signed by the US, UK, Russia, China, France, Germany and Iran. The agreement stipulated that Iran should limit uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent and uranium stockpiles to 300 kg. This level is sufficient for energy and medical purposes. But not enough to make weapons. Scientists say that uranium should be enriched to (80-90 percent) for weapons production.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was monitoring the implementation of this agreement. For this, 24-hour cameras were installed at all of Iran's nuclear facilities. By signing the agreement, the powers agreed to give Iran easy and fair access to international markets in exchange for giving up its ambitions to build nuclear weapons. 

However, after Trump became president in 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the agreement. The following year, Iran increased its uranium enrichment to 4.5 percent. Since 2023, Iran has stopped providing information about its nuclear program by removing the cameras. It has since accelerated its nuclear program. In the five-phase talks in 2025, Iran had said it was ready to return to the 2015 level (enrichment level of 3.67 percent). The US demanded zero enrichment. However, the talks failed as the Iran-Israel war broke out.

Up to 25 percent customs duties on countries trading with Iran 

US President Trump signed an executive order on Friday imposing up to 25 percent customs duties on countries trading with Iran. Trump has made this decision by combining a policy of dialogue and pressure. ‘Such a fee may be imposed on goods coming to the United States from countries that directly or indirectly purchase any goods or services from Iran,’ the order says. 

This will affect US trade with China. China is Iran’s largest trading partner and the largest buyer of Iranian oil. Russia, Germany, Turkey and the UAE will also be affected by this decision. The White House has stated that the aim of this decision is to hold Iran accountable for its nuclear program and force it to end its support for terrorism. Washington also accuses Iran of affecting the security interests of the United States and its allies by causing ballistic missiles and regional instability.