Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Situation Report, where we’re just one week out from this year’s Munich Security Conference. As always, we’ll be producing daily SitRep pop-up editions during the three-day gathering as well as participating in several FP events with government officials and experts—which you can keep track of here.

Meanwhile, here’s what’s on tap for the day: the continued uncertainty around U.S.-Iran talks, airstrikes in Syria, and the end of New START.

Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Situation Report, where we’re just one week out from this year’s Munich Security Conference. As always, we’ll be producing daily SitRep pop-up editions during the three-day gathering as well as participating in several FP events with government officials and experts—which you can keep track of here.

Meanwhile, here’s what’s on tap for the day: the continued uncertainty around U.S.-Iran talks, airstrikes in Syria, and the end of New START.

The United States and Iran are set to hold talks in Oman on Friday, reducing the possibility of U.S. President Donald Trump making good on threats to order military strikes—for now, at least. Over the past few days, there’s been a whirlwind of mixed messages and conflicting reporting on whether the talks would happen, where they would occur, and under what terms. But the two sides are poised to move forward despite disagreements over the scope of the discussions.

“They’re negotiating,” Trump said of Iran on Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. “They don’t want us to hit them.”

Will they/won’t they. The talks were originally slated to occur in Istanbul, with foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia also set to attend. But Iran reportedly pushed for changes at the last minute, including moving the venue to Muscat, Oman, and excluding representatives from other countries. Tehran also wanted to place strict limitations on the agenda, insisting that the discussions remain focused on its nuclear program. This threatened to derail the meeting altogether, as the Trump administration also wants to discuss limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for proxy groups across the Middle East.

But the White House confirmed to SitRep on Wednesday that the talks were back on, even as the precise agenda of the discussions remains up in the air. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who will lead his country’s delegation on Friday, also confirmed the talks via a post on X, stating, “Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday. I’m grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements.” Special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the U.S. delegation.

The stakes. Friday will mark........

© Foreign Policy