Trump Administration Urges US Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately Amid Nuclear Talks
On Friday morning, US President Donald Trump’s special peace envoy Steve Witkoff met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a conference in Oman. This marked the first direct face-to-face engagement between the two sides since a 12-day conflict last summer.
In recent weeks, US military presence near Iran has increased significantly, which President Trump described as an “armada” or massive naval deployment. He has repeatedly warned that military action remains an option if Iran refuses to sign a new nuclear deal.
Ahead of the talks, the US virtual embassy in Iran issued a security alert urging American citizens to “leave Iran now.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to defend itself against what he described as Washington’s “excessive demands or reckless behaviour,” while stressing that Iran does not want to abandon diplomacy before negotiations.
China, Iran’s key ally, has voiced support for Tehran’s position and criticized what it called Washington’s unilateral pressure tactics.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US delegation would focus on ensuring Iran’s “zero nuclear capability,” adding that President Trump, as commander-in-chief of the world’s most powerful military, has multiple options available.
Washington’s primary demand is that Iran halt its nuclear programme and eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium. The talks are also expected to address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
According to The New York Times, citing anonymous Iranian officials, the United States has agreed to exclude regional actors from the talks. While nuclear issues remain central, missiles and armed groups are also being discussed as part of a broader framework for a potential agreement.
The meeting comes less than a month after widespread protests against Iran’s leadership and allegations of violent crackdowns. Western human rights groups claim thousands were killed during the suppression of demonstrations.
Trump said on Thursday that Iran is negotiating because it does not want a US attack, noting that a large naval force is being deployed to the region.
