Tension Flares as US and Iran Set for High-Stakes Nuclear Talks in Oman

The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold nuclear talks in Oman on Friday, a move aimed at easing rising tensions in the Middle East. The talks follow months of escalating confrontations, including Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests and a U.S. naval buildup off its coast. Trump warned that "bad things" could occur if a deal is not reached. Iran has declared its ballistic missile program off-limits in negotiations. Tensions flared further as the U.S. F-35 jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps harassed a U.S.flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials, including Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are set to join Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Oman. The diplomatic push focuses on avoiding conflict, amid mutual threats of air strikes and fears of a wider war.