DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States will hold a sixth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program this Sunday in Oman, the sultanate's foreign minister said Thursday, as regional tensions have spiked in recent days.
The announcement by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi comes as the U.S. is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest.
Meanwhile, there have been warnings that ships could be targeted in regional waters over the tensions.
Al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X.
“I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th,” he wrote.
Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now.
U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff will attend the talks.
“Discussions are expected to be both direct and indirect, as in previous rounds,” said a person familiary with Witkoff's travels, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the upcoming trip.
Reaching a deal is one of the several diplomatic priorities being juggled by U.S. President Donald Trump and his trusted friend and Witkoff. An accord could see the U.S. lift some of its crushing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it drastically limiting or ending its enrichment of uranium.
But a failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle East on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Iran’s economy, long ailing, could enter a free fall that could worsen the simmering unrest at home. Israel or the U.S. might carry out long-threatened airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And Tehran may decide to fully end its cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb.
Iran and the U.S. have held previous talks in Muscat and Rome.
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
FILE - The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flys in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader, File)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Things have quickly gone from bad to worse for the injury-plagued Denver Nuggets, who don’t have a true healthy center on their roster after losing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and backup Jonas Valanciunas earlier this week.
Three other core players, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, were already sidelined with injuries, leaving point guard Jamal Murray as their last starter standing Friday in a 113-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Murray scored 34 points and had seven assists in 39 minutes.
“There is no complaining here, but sometimes it’s a mystery to the head coach what’s going to happen,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I can’t tell you how we’re going to be. I’ve just got to try things through these next few weeks.”
Jokic went down with a left knee hyperextension at Miami on Monday, just four days after his historic 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist performance against Minnesota on Christmas. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
The 7-foot Serbian is averaging 29.6 points and leads the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. Jokic has 16 triple-doubles in 32 games.
Valanciunas strained his right calf in Toronto on Wednesday and also will not have his status updated until the end of January, forcing Denver to start 6-foot-9 rookie forward DaRon Holmes II at center. Holmes picked up two fouls in the first 81 seconds and finished with three points and six assists in Cleveland.
“Right now, we are who we are,” Adelman said. “I’m actually excited for it, seeing DaRon out there for his first real action.”
Power forward Gordon (right hamstring strain), small forward Johnson (right knee soreness) and shooting guard Braun (left ankle sprain) do not have projected return dates, leaving Denver without players averaging a combined 80 points.
Remarkably, the Nuggets have maintained the third-best record in the West at 23-11.
“No one knows what’s going to happen with Aaron and Christian,” Adelman said. “And obviously, Cam, Jonas and Nikola are going to be out a while.”
Murray has been steady, regardless of who he is on the court with, averaging career highs of 25.4 points and 6.9 assists. The 10th-year pro is seeking his initial All-Star appearance and is logging a team-best 35.3 minutes per game.
The bumps and bruises are piling up, though, as Murray is playing through a left ankle sprain. Keeping him in the lineup is an ongoing issue for Adelman, who is in his first full season as Denver’s coach.
“It’s my biggest worry because Jamal is a concern,” Adelman said. “It’s a daily conversation with trainers and our medical staff, but he feels responsibility for his teammates to be out there.
“There is open communication every day. We’ll do our best to take care of him.”
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Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman gestures in the second half of an NBA basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) reaches for a rebound with Denver Nuggets forward Daron Holmes II (14) and guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) makes pass as Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) and guard Ochai Agbaji (30) defend during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec.31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
