Abbas Araghchi announces location and date for Iran-US talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied reports that the meeting planned between the US and Iran for Friday had collapsed due to disagreements over location and format. In a statement on his social media account, Araghchi said, "Nuclear negotiations with the US will take place in Muscat on Friday around 10:00 AM. I thank our Omani brothers for making all the necessary arrangements."

Claims that the US rejected Iran's request for a change in location and format

The meeting between Iran and the US was initially planned to be held in Turkey in a format where some Arab and Muslim countries would participate as observers on Friday. Reports in the Iranian press had indicated that the meeting would be held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and would be conducted in an indirect format, noting that the talks would be limited to the nuclear file and the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

In reports by the US press citing two unnamed US officials, it was claimed that the US had rejected Iran's request to change the location and format of the meeting scheduled for Friday. The reports stated that US officials had considered the request for a change of location but decided to reject it today. The US officials said, "We told them it's either this way or not at all, and they said, 'Okay, then not at all.'" The officials also stated that if the Iranians were willing to return to the original format, the US would be ready to meet this week or next week.

The officials expressed that the US wants to reach a real agreement with Iran quickly, otherwise they could turn to other options. The US wants the talks to include not only Iran's nuclear program but also its ballistic missiles and the proxy forces it funds in the Middle East.

News Source: 12punto