.....ISW:
NEW: Iran and the United States are expected to hold talks in Oman on February 6, despite the brief cancellation of the meeting on February 4.
The Trump administration seeks to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and support for its proxy network. Iran continues to show inflexibility toward addressing US demands, which reduces the likelihood that Iran and the United States will be able to reach a diplomatic solution.
A UK-based Middle East-focused outlet reported on February 3 that some Iranian regime policymakers believe that the only credible deterrent against US military action is the threat of a prolonged, costly war. Previous Iranian strikes that targeted US assets in the region failed to deter US military action, such as Iran’s strikes targeting Ain al-Assad Airbase in Iraq in 2020 and al Udeid Airbase in Qatar in June 2025.
This report corroborates CTP-ISW’s previous assessment that Iran is attempting to deter US military action against Iran by forecasting that it will escalate into a prolonged regional war.