US-Iran Negotiations: Oman Emerges as Preferred Venue Amid Ongoing Tensions
The location for the upcoming direct negotiations between the United States and Iran has entered a phase of uncertainty, with sources indicating that Tehran has formally requested to shift the talks from Istanbul to Oman. This change would confine discussions to the nuclear agenda and limit them to bilateral talks between the two nations.
According to Axios, an Arab source reported that the discussions are anticipated to take place in Oman next Friday, with the Trump administration reportedly agreeing to Iran's request to relocate the negotiations from Turkey to Muscat.
The source also noted that consultations are ongoing regarding the potential involvement of Arab and Islamic nations in these discussions, although no final decision has been made yet.
* Trump Signals Willingness to Negotiate Amid Military Options*
In light of these developments, President Donald Trump confirmed during a White House press conference that his administration is engaged in negotiations with Iran, stating:
“It seems they want to reach an agreement, and we will see if something can be achieved. They had a chance in the past that did not succeed, and we had to resort to more drastic measures, including the midnight hammer operation.”
Trump further remarked, “I don’t believe they want to repeat that,” referring to a previous American military strike, “but they are interested in negotiating.”
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt also confirmed that talks with Tehran are ongoing, despite the recent incident involving the downing of an Iranian drone.
In an interview with Fox News, she mentioned that special U.S. envoy Steve Wittekov is preparing for negotiations with Iranian representatives this week, adding that the president has “multiple options on the table concerning Iran, including military action.”
* Rising Tensions Amid Diplomatic Efforts*
These statements come after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that an American F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached “aggressively” towards the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
* Focus on Bilateral Talks*
Regional sources indicated on Tuesday that Iran is insisting on holding the negotiations in Oman rather than Turkey, and that discussions should focus exclusively on the nuclear program, which complicates the already delicate diplomatic landscape.
This shift occurs amid escalating regional tensions, with the United States increasing its military presence in the Middle East, while facing both regional and international calls for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing crisis, which has seen a series of threats regarding possible airstrikes in recent weeks.
