In February 2026, the US and Iran held a new round of indirect negotiations in Oman, but they had significant disagreements on core issues. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian clearly outlined a "red line," refusing to compromise on uranium enrichment and ballistic missile issues, emphasizing that the nuclear program is a matter of sovereign peaceful use. The United States continued to apply pressure, deploying carrier strike groups, shooting down Iranian drones, and increasing economic sanctions, threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries involved in trade with Iran. Despite signals from both sides indicating willingness to negotiate, military confrontations continued to escalate: the Iranian Air Force entered maximum combat readiness, US negotiators boarded aircraft carriers to communicate with pilots, and regional tensions showed no signs of easing. Israel demanded that restrictions on Iranian missiles and proxy armed groups be included in the agreement, further complicating negotiations. The current situation indicates a lack of strategic mutual trust between the US and Iran, with negotiations serving more as a "safety valve" rather than making substantial breakthroughs, and the risk of war remains.