Muscat: Iran announced Wednesday evening that the much-anticipated nuclear talks with the United States are set to occur on Friday in Oman, solidifying the timing and location of this critical dialogue. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed via US social media platform X that the discussions would commence at 10 a.m. local time in Oman's capital, Muscat.
According to Anadolu Agency, Araghchi expressed appreciation for Oman's role in facilitating the meeting, stating, "I'm grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements." This confirmation comes alongside a statement from a White House official, who corroborated to Anadolu that the talks would indeed be held in Oman, despite previous reports by Axios suggesting the US had declined a change from the initially planned venue in Istanbul, Trkiye.
Prior to the announcement of Muscat as the venue, Iranian media had indicated that indirect negotiations with the US focusing on nuclear-related issues were set to proceed. Istanbul was initially proposed as the meeting site, following Trkiye's successful diplomatic efforts to alleviate tensions between the two nations.
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that the US is expected to introduce topics outside the nuclear framework during the talks, including defense matters. An unnamed source emphasized, "These demands are not only unrelated to the nuclear issue but are directly tied to national security and the country's deterrent capability and are fundamentally non-negotiable." Iran has reiterated its willingness to engage in discussions within a mutually respectful framework focused solely on nuclear matters, cautioning that any insistence on extraneous demands could lead to a deadlock.
Oman has a history of acting as an intermediary in indirect communications between the US and Iran. The upcoming talks occur amid escalating tensions marked by a US military buildup in the Persian Gulf and threats of military action from US President Donald Trump. Several nations, including Trkiye, have recently stepped forward to mediate between Washington and Tehran in hopes of reducing these tensions.
The US, backed by its ally Israel, accuses Iran of aiming to develop nuclear weapons. In contrast, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, such as electricity generation.