On Friday, February 6, the U.S. and Iran held indirect negotiations in Oman for de-escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear problem. The discussions were relatively inconclusive, with the nations returning to where they started in their approach to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program. But for the first time, according to AP News, America brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Iran has rejected the United States’s calls for suspending uranium enrichment, but has said it was willing to discuss the “level and purity” of enrichment or regional partnership. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi met separately with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was accompanied by special advisor Jared Kushner. Past discussions between the two countries have used a shuttle-diplomacy approach.

In a social media post by Witkoff, he commented that the aircraft carrier and its strike group are “…keeping us safe and upholding President Trump’s message of peace through strength,” according to Al Jazeera. Fortunately, Reuters has reported that Iran believes these talks with the U.S. were a “good start,” and more discussions and resolutions can be expected in the coming months.