The United States and Iran are set to hold talks in Oman on Friday, after Tehran requested the venue change to limit negotiations strictly to its nuclear programme, a regional official said. The move shifts the meeting from Turkiye, where Washington had hoped to broaden discussions to include Iran’s ballistic missiles and regional activities.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that its missile programme — one of the largest in the Middle East — is a non-negotiable red line. Tehran has warned it will use its missiles to defend itself if threatened, citing attacks by Israel last year as a catalyst for replenishing its arsenal.
Tensions have surged in recent days. The US shot down an Iranian drone near the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, while Iranian armed boats approached a US-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting oil prices to rise amid fears of escalation. Former President Trump has warned of potential “bad things” if a deal is not reached, sending US forces to the region to pressure Iran.
While the US delegation, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, is preparing for the talks, Iran is seeking strictly bilateral discussions, excluding ministers from other countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE.
Since June, US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and the buildup of naval forces have heightened the risk of conflict, while Iran continues to assert that demands on uranium enrichment, missiles, and regional influence violate its sovereignty.
Regional officials stress that the primary goal of the Oman talks is to de-escalate tensions and avoid military confrontation, even as both sides navigate a precarious mix of diplomacy and deterrence in the Gulf.
