The decision comes amid heightened tensions following Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests and renewed US pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme…reports Asian Lite News
The United States will hold nuclear talks with Iran in Oman, a White House official said, confirming that the meeting will take place in the capital, Muscat. The announcement came as relations between Washington and Tehran remain strained following Iran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests last month.
The confirmation from the US on Wednesday followed comments earlier in the day by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also said the talks were due to be held in Muscat. Officials on both sides had previously suggested earlier this week that the meeting was likely to take place in Turkey, adding to confusion over the diplomatic process.
Araghchi’s announcement came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over disagreements about their format and scope. A regional official said earlier on Wednesday that Iran was seeking a “different” type of meeting from that proposed by Turkey, one focused exclusively on Iran’s nuclear programme and limited to participation by Iran and the United States.
The regional official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media. According to the official, Tehran had pushed back against broader discussions that would extend beyond the nuclear file, contributing to last-minute changes in both the agenda and the venue.
The Trump administration later confirmed that the US would take part in high-level talks with Iran in Oman rather than Turkey, as originally planned. A White House official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said several Arab and Muslim leaders had urged the administration not to abandon the talks, even as Iranian officials pressed to narrow their scope and move the negotiations.
The official said the White House remained “very skeptical” that the talks would be successful but had agreed to proceed with the revised plan out of respect for allies in the region. The decision reflects a balancing act between maintaining pressure on Tehran and responding to diplomatic appeals from regional partners concerned about further escalation.
Tensions between the two countries have risen sharply in recent weeks after President Donald Trump suggested the US might use force against Iran in response to the violent suppression of protests. Trump has also been pushing Tehran to accept a deal that would constrain its nuclear programme, reviving an issue that has been at the centre of US–Iran relations for years.
In Tehran, Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that he had instructed the foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the United States. It was the first clear indication from Iran’s leadership that it was willing to attempt renewed negotiations, a move seen as having the backing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on matters of state and had previously dismissed talks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hoped the discussions would extend beyond the nuclear issue to cover Iran’s ballistic missile programme, its support for proxy networks across the region and the “treatment of their own people.” He told reporters that Iran’s clerical leadership did not reflect the views of its population, underlining the broader political tensions framing the talks.
