Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman on Friday, negotiations that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program. The

Tehran continues detaining critics even as it signals potential agreement on uranium enrichment to ease US sanctions.

Iran rejects U.S. demands to negotiate ballistic missile program as tensions escalate across Middle East despite ongoing diplomatic talks in Oman.

The announcement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, sent a blunt warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of the talks.

Iran and the United States have yet to set a date for a new round of talks after an initial encounter last week on the contested Iranian nuclear programme but, for now, US President Donald Trump is not rushing to launch military action against the Islamic republic.

Iran and the United States are set for talks Friday in Oman over Tehran's nuclear program. This comes after Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran in June and Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests.

U.S. and Iranian officials meet separately in Oman for indirect nuclear talks, with diplomats reportedly preparing conditions for resumed negotiations.

Trump been ratcheting up threats against Iran over the past several weeks, urging a nuclear deal and increasing U.S military presence in the region.

Iran-US tensions live updates: Iran’s president apologised on Wednesday to “all those affected” by the protests and the violent crackdown that followed. President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that the country was “not seeking nuclear weapons.