Timeline of Iran war from strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei to deal that capped day of frenzied negotiations

The White House revived diplomacy efforts with Iran in February to solve the long-running dispute over its uranium enrichment capabilities, with the West fearing the country could develop a nuclear weapon and Iran insisting its program was peaceful.

The negotiations came against a backdrop of deadly nationwide protests over the country’s collapsing economy and its corrupt regime that began in late December, with President Trump telling protestors “help is on the way” as he built up US forces in the Middle East, raising fears of a military strike. 

The two countries first met on Feb. 6 in Muscat, Oman, for mediated talks. 

While Iranian officials claimed talks were a “good start,” but at home dismissed the prospect of diplomacy in their Friday prayers sermons, lambasting the negotiations as just part of “America’s political game”