US approves move of Iran nuclear talks to Oman ahead of Friday meeting: Axios
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- US approves move of Iran nuclear talks to Oman ahead of Friday meeting
Washington has agreed to Iran’s request to relocate nuclear talks from Turkey to Oman, as negotiations continue over the format and participation of regional countries, according to Axios.
Talks Expected Friday in Oman
Nuclear talks between the United States and Iran are expected to take place in Oman on Friday, Axios reporter Barak Ravid reported on Tuesday, citing an Arab source.
According to the report, President Donald Trump’s administration approved Iran’s request to move the talks from Turkey to Oman. Discussions are still ongoing over whether Arab and Muslim countries from the region will take part in the meeting.
Dispute Over Agenda and Format
Iran had asked that the talks scheduled for this week be held in Oman instead of Turkey and that the scope be limited to bilateral negotiations focused solely on nuclear issues, a regional source said on Tuesday. The request has raised questions over whether the meeting will proceed as planned.
“They want to change the format, they want to change the scope,” said a regional diplomat familiar with Iran’s demands. “They only want to discuss the nuclear file with the Americans, while the US wants to include other topics such as the ballistic missiles and the activities of Iran’s proxies in the region.”
Rising Tensions in the Region
Iran’s push to change the venue and agenda comes amid heightened tensions as the United States increases its military presence in the Middle East. Regional players have urged a resolution to the standoff, which has included mutual threats of airstrikes and fears of a wider conflict.
On Tuesday, the US military shot down an Iranian drone that it said had “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, in an incident first reported by Reuters.
Trump Warns of Consequences
US President Donald Trump said that with major US warships heading toward Iran, “bad things” would likely happen if a deal could not be reached.
