Iran warns it will strike U.S. bases if attacked as nuclear talks continue

Iran warns it will strike U.S. bases if attacked as nuclear talks continue

CAIRO/MUSCAT, Oman, Feb. 11 — Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would strike U.S. bases in the Middle East if American forces attack, a warning that came days after indirect nuclear talks in Oman, according to Reuters and Reuters.

The Oman-mediated talks were described by both sides as a good start, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi saying another round could come early next week, per Reuters, AP, and the Guardian.

Talks confined to nuclear file

Araqchi said any dialogue requires an end to threats and pressure and that Iran will discuss only its nuclear program, not missiles or regional proxies, according to Reuters and the Guardian.

Washington has pressed to broaden the agenda to ballistic missiles and support for armed groups, but Iranian officials said the talks stayed narrow for now, per Reuters and the Guardian.

Military pressure backdrop

The U.S. has surged naval assets into the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, and the head of U.S. Central Command attended the Muscat talks, the AP reported, while Reuters noted U.S. forces have massed in the Middle East.

Trump said there would be “very steep” consequences if Iran does not agree to a deal, while Tehran wants sanctions relief and insists on its right to enrich uranium, according to AP and Reuters.

Regional stakes

Araqchi said any retaliation would target U.S. bases rather than the host countries, recalling last year’s regional strikes and Iran’s earlier missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar, per Reuters.

Gulf Arab states have warned that a wider conflict would threaten regional stability and energy routes, and Oman said the talks aimed to build conditions for lasting security, the AP and the Guardian reported.

Both sides said they would consult their capitals and return to negotiations soon, though mistrust remains high after last year’s clashes, according to Reuters and the Guardian.