Tehran (TDI): Iran has proposed moving the upcoming talks with the United States to a different location, following confirmation from President Masoud Pezeshkian that he had instructed officials to begin dialogue with Washington.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday that Islamabad has been invited to join the discussions, aimed at reducing tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Originally, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi were scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Friday to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and avoid fears of a broader regional conflict. Reuters reported that Iranian authorities now prefer Oman as the venue and want the discussions limited strictly to nuclear issues.
The move comes amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf. A US warplane recently shot down what was claimed to be an Iranian drone heading toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Earlier, Iranian gunboats challenged a US-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, although the vessel was allowed to continue its journey safely, according to the British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech.
Read More: Pakistan Invited to Join US–Iran Talks Aimed at Reducing Tensions
Despite these developments, the White House said the talks are still on schedule. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, “I just spoke with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and as of now, these talks are still planned for later this week.”
President Pezeshkian confirmed that he had instructed his foreign minister to start negotiations with the US, emphasizing that the environment should be free from threats and unreasonable demands. In a post on X, he said the initiative followed requests from “friendly governments.”
Read More: Iran Signals Willingness to Engage in US Talks, Cites National Interests
Qatar’s foreign ministry described its engagement with Iran as “very intensive,” coordinated closely with neighboring countries. A senior UAE official noted that Iran needs to restore direct communication with the US to avoid repeated regional tensions. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash added, “I hope these negotiations lead to concrete understandings that prevent recurring disputes.”
