Peace between the US and Iran is within our reach, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said on Friday after meeting with US Vice President JD Vance. Busaidi told X that he informed Vance about the ongoing talks and their results so far. He emphasized that he was grateful to both sides for their commitment and expected “further and decisive” progress in the negotiations in the coming days.
Why are countries withdrawing diplomats from the Middle East?
What warnings have other countries issued regarding travel to the Middle East?
What are the latest news regarding US-Iran negotiations?
What does JD Vance say about the US attack on Iran?
JD Vance, in turn, told The Washington Post on Friday that Trump is considering a military strike against Iran, but in his opinion there is “no chance” that the US would wage a war in the Middle East for years with no end in sight. Meanwhile, some foreign policy experts believe there will be no easy way out if the US engages in a more serious conflict with Iran.
The third round of US-Iran negotiations took place on Thursday in Geneva. There is no information about an agreement or a breakthrough in the talks, which are to concern primarily the Iranian nuclear program. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi announced their continuation within a week.
The US has been strengthening its military presence around Iran for weeks and has gathered the largest forces there since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military intervention if an agreement on Tehran's nuclear program is not reached.
Trump said Friday he was not satisfied with the progress of negotiations and repeated assurances that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.
The tension is rising. The US and Great Britain withdraw diplomats from the Middle East
Also on Friday British Foreign Office reported that Temporarily withdraws staff from the embassy in Iranwhich will now function remotely. The ministry admitted that its ability to help British citizens in Iran is currently very limited.
Authorities Australia on Wednesday they stated that family members of Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon should leave these countries, and also offered voluntary trips to family members of its employees in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.
Countries advise their citizens against traveling to the Middle East
Foreign Office German issued a recommendation on Friday to German citizens to refrain from traveling to Israel. Likewise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs France warns against travel “due to the security situation in Iran and its possible local repercussions.” Family visits and tourist trips are also discouraged.
Embassy Canada in Iran called on citizens to “leave Iran immediately if they can do so safely.” They made the same appeal on Friday Chinaand previously also, among others, India and Sweden.
