# United%20States
Latest news and articles about United%20States
Total: 124 articles found
Tehran Insists on Nuclear-Only Talks as US Pushes to Broaden Agenda
Iran and the United States are set to hold talks in Muscat on February 6, but Tehran insists the agenda be limited to nuclear issues while Washington is pushing to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme. The disagreement over scope, combined with recent military signalling from Iran, raises the stakes for a fragile negotiation that could either defuse or inflame regional tensions.
Gulf States Coax Washington Back to the Table — Iran Talks Restored, Moved to Oman
After urgent lobbying by multiple Middle Eastern leaders, the U.S. agreed to restore Iran talks scheduled for February 6 and move the meeting to Oman. Regional pressure sought to prevent a cancellation that might have increased the likelihood of military action, but U.S. officials remain sceptical about the talks' prospects.
Iran and U.S. to Hold Talks in Muscat on Feb. 6, Tehran Says — A Tentative Diplomatic Opening
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat on Feb. 6 for talks conducted through Oman, a customary intermediary. The encounter is likely to focus on limited, pragmatic issues rather than a comprehensive settlement, serving as a test of whether the two sides can achieve small confidence‑building measures amid persistent strategic differences.
U.S. Defence Chief Warns Iran: Talks or ‘Other Options’ as Washington Says It Is ‘Very Prepared’
U.S. Defence Secretary Hegseth warned that Iran faces “other options” if nuclear talks fail, saying the military is “very well” prepared, while President Trump reiterated threats of force. Both officials framed diplomacy as possible but secondary to a posture of preparedness, raising concerns about escalation in a region already strained by sanctions and nuclear tensions.
Netanyahu Seeks U.S. 'Freedom to Act' on Iran While Pressing Gaza Preconditions
Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. special envoy Witkoff that Israel needs 'freedom to act' on Iran, demanding Tehran halt ballistic missile production and uranium enrichment. The meeting also covered Gaza reconstruction, with Israel insisting on Hamas disarmament, full demilitarization, and exclusion of the Palestinian Authority from Gaza's governance.
Talk or War? US and Iran Place Diplomacy and Force Side by Side
The United States and Iran have placed both diplomacy and military options on visible display: negotiators are due to meet in Istanbul even as both capitals conduct exercises and issue stark warnings. The dual posture widens room for bargaining but also raises the risk of miscalculation and regional escalation.
F‑35 Downs Iranian Drone as IRGC Fast Boats Harass U.S.‑Flagged Tanker — Diplomacy on a Knife‑Edge
A U.S. F‑35C shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, and IRGC fast boats later harassed a U.S.‑flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents occurred as fragile talks between Washington and Tehran were being arranged, highlighting the risks that operational friction could derail diplomacy and raise the chance of miscalculation in regional waters.
Iran’s Bold Signals: Boat-Borne Harassment, Drone Shootdown and a Tactical Pause in Exercises Ahead of Nuclear Talks
A series of confrontations on February 3 — IRGC fast boats attempting to board a US‑flagged tanker and a US shootdown of an Iranian drone near USS Abraham Lincoln — were followed by Iran’s decision to postpone naval exercises with China and Russia. Tehran frames the delay as tactical de‑escalation ahead of nuclear talks while continuing to signal deterrence through asymmetric maritime actions.
Fragile Diplomacy: U.S. and Iran Agree to Oman Talks as Naval Confrontations Raise Stakes
The United States and Iran agreed to hold direct talks in Oman after Tehran demanded bilateral, nuclear-focused negotiations and shifted the venue from Turkey. Hours before the talks, a U.S. warplane shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln and U.S. forces escorted a tanker away from Iranian vessels, underscoring how fragile the diplomatic opening is and how quickly it could be ruptured by maritime incidents.
First Shot Fired: U.S. Downs Iranian Drone as Tehran Narrows Talks and Sidelines Five Mediators
A U.S. jet shot down an Iranian drone near an American carrier on Feb. 3, prompting Tehran to shift Feb. 6 talks to Oman and limit the agenda to nuclear issues while excluding missiles and proxies. The move signals Iran's reluctance to accept broad concessions without sanctions relief and narrows the role for regional mediators, increasing the risk of miscalculation.
Slovak MEP Blaha: US Unilateralism Exposes Need for Greater EU Strategic Autonomy
Slovak MEP Luboš Blaha accused the United States of imperialist behavior over recent comments on Greenland and a reported military move in Venezuela, declaring NATO moribund and calling for greater EU autonomy. His remarks reflect and may intensify an ongoing European debate over strategic independence, economic resilience and how to respond to perceived U.S. unilateralism.
As AUKUS Stalls, Analysts Float B-2 Purchase as a Stopgap for Australia’s Deterrent Gap
With the AUKUS submarine programme facing mounting delays and political hurdles, some Western analysts have proposed Australia acquire US B‑2 stealth bombers as an alternative means of long‑range deterrence. The proposal highlights the gap between strategic ambitions and procurement realities, but faces steep legal, logistical and political barriers that make it unlikely as a straightforward solution.