Iran and Oman received advance notification of a visit by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, signaling a potential threat of military action against Iran if it does not agree to a deal curbing its nuclear program.
Negotiations and Warnings
The visit by Witkoff and Kushner, who led U.S. talks with Iran in Oman on Friday, was at the invitation of U.S. Central Command chief, Adm. Brad Cooper. According to reports, Tehran was informed beforehand to avoid being caught off guard.
The United States and Iran resumed negotiations after previous talks were suspended due to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, which concluded with a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites. Western countries suspect Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies, despite enriching uranium to levels without peaceful applications and obstructing international inspections.
Escalating Tensions
Following the first round of talks in Oman, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries continuing business with Iran, and announced new sanctions against shipping entities to curb Iranian oil exports.
A billboard appeared in Tehran’s Palestine Square on Sunday, threatening Tel Aviv with missile fire, displaying a map of the city and the words, “Under raining missiles, it’s a small area!” with the caption, “You start… We finish it!”
Iran has previously displayed threatening imagery towards Israel, including a purported countdown clock to Israel’s destruction.
Recent Conflict and Protests
During the Israel-Iran war in June, Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and 1,100 drones at Israel. Talks between Washington and Tehran are occurring amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the region following Iran’s crackdown on protests that began in late December.
Iranian authorities acknowledge 3,117 deaths in the recent protests, listing 2,986 names, primarily security forces and bystanders. International organizations and media estimate the death toll to be much higher, potentially in the tens of thousands. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has verified 6,961 deaths, with another 11,630 cases under investigation, and reports over 51,000 arrests.
Crackdown on Activism
Amid the crackdown, Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to six years in prison, along with a two-year travel ban, for gathering and collusion, and additional sentences for propaganda activities and exile. Mohammadi has spent much of the past decade in prison for her activism against capital punishment and mandatory dress codes.
Three reformist figures, including Azar Mansouri, head of Iran’s Reform Front coalition, were arrested on allegations of ties to Israel and the US. Authorities accuse them of undermining national unity and coordinating with enemy propaganda.
Mansouri, a former advisor to reformist president Mohammad Khatami, previously faced imprisonment following the 2009 protests and again in 2022. She had recently posted on Instagram expressing support for the protesters and criticizing the crackdown.
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