Can US-Iran diplomacy work? Inside the narrow window for talks

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Ali HashemFebruary 4, 2026 at 11:10 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In February 2026, Iran and the United States are preparing for another round of talks in Oman, aimed at de-escalating military tensions. According to an Iranian official, Iran prefers to stabilize the talks with the U.S. before including other regional nations, fearing a larger group could hinder focused negotiation. Regional mediators, however, see their role as future guarantors of any settlement, given their direct stake in regional stability. This approach differs from the 2015 nuclear agreement, as regional actors now have a more significant strategic interest in preventing conflict. In recent days, Iran has intensified diplomatic efforts with regional partners, including meetings with Russian and Turkish leaders.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Istanbul 30% Moscow 30% Supreme National Security Council 40% Al Jazeera 40% Donald Trump 40% Vladimir Putin 40% Abbas Araghchi 40% Ali Larijani 50% Oman 60% Tehran ×270% United States ×380% Iran ×1090%

Keywords

us-iran diplomacy 90% regional stability 70% de-escalation 60% negotiations 60% regional actors 50% oman 50% military tensions 40% political display 40%