Talks between the United States and Iran are set to take place in Oman on Friday, according to regional officials. Iran requested this shift to limit discussions specifically to its nuclear program, especially as U.S. military presence in the Middle East increases fears of a potential conflict.
Iran aimed to continue its previous discussions on its nuclear program within Gulf Arab states by moving the meeting from Turkey. The preference for a different venue appears to be a strategy to prevent the inclusion of broader topics like Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, which, according to regional officials, Iran is unwilling to compromise on.
Iran asserts that its extensive ballistic missile program is a crucial issue in negotiations, and they maintain this as a firm boundary that won’t be crossed.
In the wake of being attacked by Israel last year, Iran claims it has been bolstering its ballistic missile stockpile. It has also issued warnings that it will respond with force if its national security is compromised.
An anonymous regional official remarked that Iran has made it clear from the outset that its interest lies solely in its nuclear discussions, in contrast to the U.S., which seems inclined to address additional subjects.
Oil prices surged on Wednesday following an incident where the U.S. military downed an Iranian drone, and another event involved an Iranian ship approaching a U.S. vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, raising alarm about escalating tensions between the two nations.
Iran called for bilateral talks
President Trump has warned that if an agreement isn’t reached, “bad things” are likely to unfold, amplifying pressure on Iran in a standoff that has led to mutual threats and fears of an expanding war.
Reports indicate that the U.S. military shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday that acted aggressively towards the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
During a White House briefing on Tuesday, Trump mentioned, “We’re in the process of negotiating with them right now,” but he didn’t disclose specifics about the location of the discussions.
Expected participants in the talks include Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi. It was also noted that ministers from countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE were meant to attend, though Tehran seems focused on direct talks with the U.S.
In June, the U.S. launched strikes against Iranian nuclear targets while partaking in an Israeli bombing campaign.
Recently, the U.S. Navy has bolstered its forces in response to Iran’s violent response to anti-government protests—deemed the deadliest since the 1979 revolution.
While Trump hasn’t explicitly suggested intervention, he has called for nuclear concessions from Iran, even dispatching a military unit to the region.
Several Iranian officials note rising anxiety among their leaders, fearing a U.S. attack could spur public unrest and jeopardize their authority.
Regional sources believe the primary goal of diplomatic efforts should be to mitigate conflict and calm pressures.
tanker accident
Reports from Iranian sources indicate that Trump has set three conditions for resuming talks: no uranium enrichment, limitations on ballistic missile development, and ceasing support to regional militias.
Iran has long viewed these conditions as serious violations of its sovereignty. However, some officials suggest that clerics believe the missile program represents a more significant hurdle than uranium enrichment.
Following U.S. airstrikes in June, Iran has suspended its uranium enrichment activities, which it claims are meant only for peaceful purposes.
In another episode on Tuesday, Iranian forces reportedly approached a U.S. flagged tanker aggressively in the Strait of Hormuz, trying to board it. The tanker, however, accelerated and evaded their attempts.
