What is the story about?
For the world, officials from the United States and Iran are holding crucial talks in Oman; however, fresh reports suggest President Donald Trump's administration
is simultaneously exploring "transition scenarios". The Trump administration is reportedly working on a transition plan and will be convening a meeting of Iranian opposition figures later this week. According to a media report, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is closely involved in the preparation of the transition plan.
What's Happening Behind The Scenes
According to a report by The National, the White House is seeking input from prominent Iranian Americans who could assist in any transition after the toppling of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's regime. A source close to the ongoing American efforts told the US media outlet that Jared Kushner is closely involved in the process to find an alternative to the current Iranian regime and is helping the Trump team assemble a group of Iranian-American business leaders to advise on the formation of a transitional entity to help govern Iran in case of regime change.
The report says that the Trump administration is planning to convene a meeting of Iranian opposition figures in Floria on the weekend. The US is yet to make any such plan public.
Iran-US Hold Talks in Oman - All You Need To Know
Iran and the US started high-stakes negotiations on Friday to try to overcome sharp differences over Tehran's nuclear programme, with Oman shuttling between the sides.
However, a dispute over widening the agenda risks derailing diplomacy and triggering another West Asian conflict.
While both sides have signalled readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran's long-running nuclear row with the West, Washington wants to expand the talks to also cover Iran's ballistic missiles, support for armed groups around the region and "treatment of their own people", according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
US President Trump has kept up pressure on Iran, moving aircraft carriers and other military assets to the Gulf and suggesting the US could attack Iran over the killing of peaceful demonstrators or if Tehran launches mass executions over the protests.
