WorldPosted at: Feb 4 2026 9:51PM


Iran seeks last minute venue and format changes ahead of discussions with US

Tehran, Feb 4 (UNI) Iran has sought last-minute venue changes from the US, as well as change in the format of the scheduled talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff scheduled for Friday, even as its forces carried out two confrontational actions against US vessels in the Gulf, in a potential risk to the already fragile diplomatic proceedings days before the negotiations kickstart.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, Tehran has asked that the talks scheduled for Friday be moved from Istanbul to Oman and are held strictly on a bilateral basis, without the initially planned presence of Arab and Muslim states which had been invited as observers, marking a significant shift from the understandings reached in recent days just after commitments had been secured from several nations to attend.
According to Axios, the Trump administration has agreed to shift the venue to Oman, though whether the format of discussions will continue as planned or change in accordance with Iran's wishes, is uncertain. The White House declined to comment on the changes, but acknowledged that preparations for talks are continuing.
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