Iran has asked for nuclear negotiations with the United States to take place in Oman on Friday, according to a source knowledgeable about the talks, as Tehran seeks modifications to the framework of the revived discussions.
The request follows reports that Iranian officials are also advocating for the discussions to be restricted to a bilateral U.S.-Iran arrangement, leaving out other Arab and regional nations — a development that might hinder American diplomatic initiatives in the area.
The State Department has not officially verified if any negotiations are set to occur or what structure they would follow.
Reuters reported on Monday that Tehran is considering the prospect of fresh nuclear negotiations with the United States, with Turkey being considered as a possible location and regional intermediaries, including and Qatar, taking an active part, following President Donald Trump’s expression of optimism that an agreement could be achieved to prevent military strikes against Iran.
Trump has allegedly been evaluating his alternatives regarding a possible amid extensive demonstrations and harsh suppression within the nation. Trump declared last week that a “massive Armada is heading to Iran,” commanded by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.
White House press secretary stated on Tuesday that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain on the calendar, affirming that special envoy Steve Witkoff continues to participate in diplomatic talks.
“Oh, look, I just spoke with special envoy Witkoff. And, these talks as of right now are still scheduled. President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango. You need a willing partner to achieve diplomacy. And that’s something that special envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt added that Trump continues to maintain military alternatives as an option.
“As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran. As commander in chief, I think they learned that quite well last year with the strike in Operation Midnight Hammer, which was wildly successful and . But those talks will continue later this week as far as we’re concerned. Right now,” she said.
This development follows an incident where six Iranian gunboats unsuccessfully tried to stop a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to reports.
Security firm Vanguard Tech informed its clients on Tuesday that the Iranian boats were equipped with .50-caliber weapons, and they commanded the oil tanker to shut down its engines and get ready to be boarded. However, the tanker accelerated and was eventually guided to safety by an escort, according to the Journal.
Additionally, the U.S. military reported on Tuesday that an Iranian vessel “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent,” according to a U.S. Central Command spokesman. No American personnel were harmed and no U.S. equipment was damaged during the encounter.
Anders Hagstrom and Greg Norman contributed to this report.