Trump Backtracks on Iran Nuclear Talks Cancellation Decision
The dramatic policy U-turn came hours after media, citing two U.S. officials, disclosed the White House had rejected Tehran's demands to relocate and restructure talks originally scheduled for Istanbul, effectively scrapping Friday's meeting.
Multiple Middle Eastern leaders mounted an urgent, high-level lobbying campaign pressuring the Trump administration not to abandon diplomatic engagement, two U.S. officials told media.
At least nine regional governments contacted the White House at the highest echelons, strongly advocating against cancellation, according to the report.
"They asked us to keep the meeting and listen to what the Iranians have to say. We have told the Arabs that we will do the meeting if they insist. But we are very skeptical," one U.S. official was quoted as saying.
The original framework called for Friday discussions in Istanbul with several Middle Eastern nations participating as observers. Iran subsequently proposed Tuesday shifting the venue to Oman and adopting a bilateral format concentrating exclusively on nuclear matters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on X that talks were "scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday," adding that "I'm grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed skepticism Wednesday about potential diplomatic breakthroughs.
"The United States is prepared to meet with them," Rubio told reporters. "If the Iranians want to meet, we're ready. They've expressed an interest in meeting and talking."
"I'm not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we're going to try to find out," he added.
The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds amid escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities. U.S. Central Command confirmed a U.S. fighter jet destroyed an Iranian Shahed-139 drone Tuesday after the unmanned aircraft approached the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea with unclear intent, causing no injuries or damage.
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