Iran Seeks to Move U.S. Talks to Oman, Narrow Agenda

Iran has formally requested to move planned diplomatic talks with the United States from Turkey to Oman, while also seeking to limit the negotiations exclusively to its nuclear program.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Tehran wants to shift the meeting, originally scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, and has insisted that the agenda not include its support for proxy militias across the Middle East or its ballistic missile development.

The sources, who requested anonymity, also indicated that Iran opposed the participation of other regional countries in the talks, with the exception of Turkey. This move could escalate tensions with Washington, as the Trump administration has signaled that any comprehensive deal must address Iran's missile program and its funding of regional proxies.

Rising Tensions and Market Impact

The diplomatic maneuver comes amid heightened military friction. On Tuesday, the U.S. military confirmed that one of its jets shot down an Iranian drone that had approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier aggressively in the Arabian Sea.

This incident immediately affected global energy markets, sending oil prices higher. In early trading Wednesday, Brent crude rose 0.2% to approximately $67.50 a barrel. The benchmark is up 11% this year, largely driven by the prospect of a potential conflict in the oil-rich region.

High-Stakes Diplomatic Landscape

The White House and the State Department did not provide an immediate comment on the proposed relocation of talks to Oman. However, President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing.

The planned meeting in Turkey was expected to include U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A broader diplomatic effort to prevent a war also involves several other nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Pakistan, and Oman.

If the talks proceed, they would mark the first public meeting between American and Iranian officials since mass protests erupted in Iran last month. The Iranian government’s deadly crackdown on the demonstrations prompted threats of military action from President Trump.