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Iranwire – Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Muscat on Tuesday, February 10, to continue quiet consultations following a recent round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, which were mediated by Oman in the Omani capital.
Ali Larijani is a long-standing figure within Iran’s political establishment. Despite coming from a powerful conservative family, he is often described as a pragmatic conservative – or even a centrist – rather than a hardliner. His appointment as head of the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top decision-making body on foreign policy and security, signals that the Supreme Leader is leaning on Ali Larijani’s experience and negotiating skill to navigate the current crisis.
This trip takes place while Tehran and Washington held indirect negotiations in Oman last week, from which no serious or reliable achievements have been reported.
Officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran say that during this visit, Larijani is scheduled to meet senior Omani officials, including the foreign minister and the Sultan of Oman, to discuss the “prospects of the negotiation results” and broader “regional and international developments.” Critics, however, argue that these meetings are yet another effort by the Islamic Republic to use Oman as an intermediary amid the ongoing diplomatic deadlock with the United States.
Oman has historically served as the primary “backdoor” for diplomacy between Iran and the West. Known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” Muscat was the site of the secret talks that led to the 2015 Nuclear Deal (JCPOA). Whenever an Iranian high official visits the Sultan, it is a strong signal that a secret message is being passed to Washington.
The latest round of talks between Iran and the United States took place in Muscat on Friday, February 6 (17 Bahman), with Oman acting as the mediator. While the Iranian Foreign Ministry framed the discussions as a “good start,” foreign analysts and independent media outlets have said the talks showed little transparent progress and remain doubtful about any concrete outcomes.
Foreign media have reported that in the shadow of these negotiations, Iranian officials might be attempting to gain preliminary concessions – including a reduction in uranium enrichment—with the goal of the complete removal of sanctions. This is an issue referred to within the Islamic Republic as “sudden” and “high-risk” shifts.
In the aftermath of the January 2026 protests and the economic collapse that followed, the regime is facing intense pressure to revive the economy. At the same time, “reducing enrichment” remains deeply controversial among hardliners in Tehran, who see the nuclear program as their main source of leverage against the West. Any “sudden shift” on this front points to a government that may be desperate for sanctions relief in order to stabilize the situation at home.
Oman, however, continues to emphasize its role as a mediator. Officials in Muscat insist that talks with both sides have continued separately, and their goal has been to reduce tensions and find political solutions.
