Faktain News – A stark warning reverberated from the U.S. Virtual Embassy in Iran early Friday, imploring American citizens to depart the nation immediately. The advisory emphasized preparing independent evacuation plans, explicitly stating no reliance on U.S. government support. This urgent message arrived just hours before highly anticipated talks between the United States and Iran in Oman, diplomatic efforts already clouded by a visible lack of progress on the meeting’s fundamental agenda.

High-profile American representatives, including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were slated to engage in these discussions. They would face a delegation spearheaded by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as confirmed by both American and Iranian officials.

Such warnings are not new; the U.S. has dispatched several similar alerts in recent weeks. A previous advisory on January 14 likewise urged Americans to leave, coinciding with President Trump’s contemplation of potential military actions against Iran, even targeted strikes. Today’s scheduled dialogue marks the first formal encounter between Tehran and Washington since last June’s dramatic escalation. That period saw a 12-day conflict involving Israel, culminating in U.S. airstrikes that inflicted significant damage upon three of Iran’s primary nuclear installations.

Significant disagreements regarding both the scope and location of these crucial talks have fueled skepticism about their potential for success. This persistent impasse maintains a palpable risk of U.S. military intervention. Reports suggest Washington’s demands encompass Iran’s complete disposal of its enriched uranium reserves, stringent limitations on Tehran’s ballistic missile development, and an immediate cessation of arming and funding militant factions across the Middle East. President Trump himself has issued explicit threats of military strikes should Tehran fail to acquiesce to these conditions.

Iran, however, has vehemently rejected these demands, branding them an unacceptable affront to its national sovereignty. Tehran has also issued its own stern warnings, threatening forceful retaliation against any attacks by targeting U.S. military installations within the region and striking Israel.

Little Hope for Breakthrough?

These fragile diplomatic overtures unfold amidst an increasingly volatile Middle East, marked by a substantial U.S. military buildup in the Gulf region over recent weeks. Ahead of these critical discussions, President Trump dispatched what he termed a “massive armada,” prominently featuring the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, to the Middle East.

The prospects for any significant deal or de-escalation emerging from these talks appear slim, according to Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group. He highlighted that the core demands of both nations remain “far apart” and are compounded by “zero trust.” McNally further grimly estimated a 75% likelihood of the U.S. and Iran engaging in military hostilities within the next days or weeks. He outlined several potential scenarios, including a Venezuela-style blockade, targeted or limited strikes, or even a large-scale military conflict.

Initially, the discussions were scheduled for Istanbul, recognizing Turkey’s prominent role as a potential mediator. The original plan invited foreign ministers from key regional Arab nations, among them Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey itself. However, a dramatic shift occurred on Tuesday when Tehran issued a last-minute request to alter both the venue and format. Iran pushed for the meeting to convene in Oman and insisted on restricting attendance exclusively to Iranian and American representatives.

With President Trump having staked U.S. credibility on these outcomes, McNally warned that a refusal by Iran to make significant concessions would likely compel the U.S. president to take action. Conversely, he noted a scenario where, if the U.S. were to refrain from strikes, Israel might then initiate attacks against Iranian missile sites, nuclear facilities, and regime leadership targets.

Earlier this year, tensions within Iran itself escalated following widespread national protests. Tehran responded with a severe crackdown, resulting in the deaths of at least 6,883 individuals by Wednesday, as reported by the Washington-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. President Trump had previously threatened intervention to support these protestors, though he ultimately chose against direct military involvement.