The United States and Iran will hold nuclear talks in Oman on Friday, a regional official said. Tehran requested the venue change to focus solely on its nuclear program. The meeting comes amid growing US military presence in the Middle East, raising fears of a confrontation.
Iran asked for bilateral talks with Washington, avoiding discussions on its ballistic missile program. Tehran has repeatedly said its missile program is a red line. US officials, however, initially wanted other issues on the agenda, including regional proxy activity.
Read more: US Iran talks proceed despite rising military tensions
Tensions have risen after recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. The US shot down an Iranian drone, while armed Iranian boats approached a US-flagged vessel. Oil prices have risen amid these confrontations, highlighting concerns over potential escalation.
US President Donald Trump warned of “bad things” if no deal is reached. Jared Kushner and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to attend alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Tehran declined to include other regional countries, focusing on a direct US-Iran dialogue.
Read more: Iran signals dialogue as Trump warns of consequences
The priority of the talks is de-escalation, a regional official said. Iran has said it halted uranium enrichment after US strikes in June, while the US demands zero enrichment, missile limitations, and an end to proxy support. Both sides aim to prevent further conflict in the region.