TEHRAN: Iran has demanded that upcoming talks with the United States be moved from Turkey to Oman and limited strictly to nuclear issues, according to a regional source on Tuesday. The request has added further complexity to already fragile diplomacy at a time of escalating military tensions in the Middle East.
The talks, originally scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, were expected to involve multiple regional actors. However, Tehran now wants only bilateral discussions with Washington and rejects any agenda that includes Iran’s ballistic missile programme or the activities of its allied groups in the region.
While the White House says negotiations are still planned for later this week, Iran’s foreign ministry has said consultations on the venue are ongoing, noting that Turkey, Oman and other countries have offered to host the meeting.
Tensions have spiked recently after the US shot down an Iranian drone that reportedly approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
In a separate incident, US officials accused Iranian forces of harassing a US-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if a deal is not reached, while also deploying additional naval forces near Iran’s coastline.
Regional governments, including the UAE, have urged negotiations to prevent another conflict. Gulf states fear Iran could retaliate against US military bases on their territory if Washington launches further strikes.
Meanwhile, Iran faces internal pressure following recent anti-government protests. According to Iranian officials cited by Reuters, Tehran is particularly concerned that a US military attack could trigger wider unrest at home.
Reports suggest Trump has demanded three conditions for renewed talks: zero uranium enrichment, restrictions on Iran’s missile programme, and an end to support for regional proxy groups. Iranian officials say they are willing to show flexibility on uranium enrichment — even handing over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium — but consider limits on their missile programme unacceptable. For now, where and how the talks will proceed remains uncertain.
