Morning Briefing: Feb. 5, 2026

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including the White House confirming that nuclear talks between the US and Iran will take place Friday in Oman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praising recent steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward establishing lasting peace, and Chinese President Xi Jinping telling his US counterpart Donald Trump to handle arm sales to Taiwan with “prudence,” warning that Beijing won't allow the island's separation from China.

TOP STORIES

• White House official confirms nuclear talks with Iran to be held Friday in Oman

Negotiations centered on Iran's nuclear program will take place Friday in the Omani capital of Muscat, a White House official confirmed to Anadolu.

The official commented on condition of anonymity, but the US confirmation that the talks will proceed Friday comes after uncertainty mounted that they would proceed amid pushback from Tehran.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks would take place in Muscat at around 10 am local time.

The US news outlet Axios said earlier that Washington told Tehran it will not agree to demands to change the location or format of the talks scheduled for Friday.

“We told them it is this or nothing, and they said, 'Ok, then nothing,'” the news outlet quoted an unnamed US official as saying.

• Steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward establishing lasting peace are 'extremely valuable,' says Turkish president

Türkiye’s president praised the recent steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward establishing lasting peace as “extremely valuable.”

Speaking in a video message to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 program, Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his hope that the award would bring blessings to everyone.

"I hope that these awards, which have been presented since 2019, will contribute to peace and stability throughout the world, especially in the times we are currently facing,” he stated.

He congratulated Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, “who were deemed worthy of this year's awards."

"I believe that with the entry into force of the agreement, on which both sides have reached a consensus regarding its purpose, scope, wording, and spirit, a brand-new chapter will be opened in the future of the Caucasus,” he said, referring to an agreement between the countries reached last August.

• Handle arms sales to Taiwan with 'prudence,' Xi tells Trump, says China ‘won’t allow' island's separation from people's republic

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Washington to handle arms sales to Taiwan with "prudence," saying Beijing will not allow the island to be separated from China.

During a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Xi expressed his desire to "steer the giant ship of China-US relations steadily forward through winds and storms" jointly with Trump and to "accomplish more big things and good things," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on the US social media company X’s platform.

"We should make progress step by step to build mutual trust, find the right way to get along, and make 2026 a year where our two major countries advance toward mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation," he said.

During the call, Xi stressed that Taiwan was the "most important issue in China-US relations."

"China must safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never allow Taiwan to be separated (from China)," he said.

The US in December approved a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Soldiers from 19 nations are participating in the Pakistani military's "team spirit" drills, according to an army statement.
• US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized over 600,000 pounds of illicit drugs in 2025, the country’s Homeland Security secretary said.
• An undercover FBI informant "became convinced" that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was an Israeli spy, according to a document that is among millions of pages released last week by the Justice Department.
• Gaza’s Health Ministry said that 54 Palestinian bodies and 66 boxes containing human remains were transferred to the Gaza Strip after they were released by Israel, with the delivery carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• A group of 32 European lawmakers has demanded the European Commission investigate TikTok because of claims the platform limited or disrupted content related to politically sensitive topics, including posts mentioning files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Politico.
• The Washington Post began laying off hundreds of journalists as part of sweeping cuts expected to reduce the company’s total workforce by nearly one-third, according to reports and staff affected by the decision.
• Syrian authorities uncovered a new mass grave containing human remains in the capital Damascus believed to belong to victims of massacres committed by the former regime of Bashar al-Assad in the Tadamon neighborhood.
• US District Judge Aileen Cannon sentenced Ryan Routh to life plus seven years for attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida in September 2024, according to reports.
• Morocco evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after flash floods swept several areas, the Interior Ministry said.
• China removed three defense industry delegates, including a nuclear weapons expert, from the national legislature.
• Türkiye and Egypt are working together on efforts for peace in Gaza as well as stability in neighboring Libya, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• A second round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US on the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war began in the United Arab Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US, Argentina reach deal on critical minerals

The US and Argentina have reached a deal on critical minerals, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said.

The two countries signed an agreement for strengthening the supply of critical minerals in mining and processing, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted an inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the State Department.

The US and Argentia "reaffirm their strategic partnership and their commitment to developing a secure, resilient and competitive supply chain," it added.

The ministry said the framework instrument represents an opportunity for economic and productive growth for Argentia.

Argentina's mining exports reached $6.037 billion in 2025, it said.

"Argentina is on track to increase its total exports to around $100 billion in the next seven years, with a growing contribution from mining, which could exceed $20 billion within that timeframe and reach more than $30 billion by the end of the next decade," it said.

• Eurozone annual inflation stands at 1.7% in January

The annual inflation rate in the euro area was at 1.7% in January, in line with expectations, down from 2% in December 2025, Eurostat announced.

The services sector posted the highest annual price hike with 3.2% in January, down from 3.4% in December, Eurostat data showed.

It was followed by food, alcohol and tobacco with 2.7%, up from 2.5%, and non-energy industrial goods with 0.4%, up from 0.3% over the same period.

Energy prices decreased in the eurozone by 4.1% in January on a yearly basis after falling by 1.9% in December 2025.

Among eurozone countries, Slovakia saw the highest annual inflation rate with 4.2% in January, followed by Croatia with 3.6% and Ireland with 2.6%.

The lowest rates were seen in France with 0.4% and Italy and Finland with both 1%.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices decreased by 0.5% in the euro area in January.