The United States has canceled a meeting with Iran that was scheduled for February 6, as reported by Axios, citing sources in the government.
The US refusal came after Iran proposed changing the venue of the negotiations from Istanbul to Oman, to focus exclusively on the Iranian nuclear program, excluding discussions on other topics, including issues related to ballistic missiles. The Iranian side's request was rejected on February 4.
“We told them that either we discuss everything or nothing, to which they responded, ‘Okay, then nothing,’” noted a senior American official. He added that if Tehran is willing to return to the original format, the US could meet either this week or next.
“We are striving for a quick and real agreement; otherwise, other options will start to be considered,” the official emphasized, hinting at Donald Trump's repeated threats to use military force, as Axios reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on February 4 that negotiations with the US regarding the nuclear program are planned in Muscat, Oman, for the morning of February 6. He expressed gratitude to Oman for organizing the necessary arrangements.
While US President Donald Trump was considering the possibility of a military strike on Iran, at the end of January, he announced that negotiations between Tehran and Washington had begun. Trump noted that his further actions would depend on the results of these negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on February 4 that the negotiations must address both Iran's nuclear and missile programs, as well as its support for terrorist groups in the Middle East and the Iranian authorities' treatment of their citizens. In response, the Iranian side stated its readiness to discuss only nuclear issues.
In an interview with NBC News, the full version of which will be released on the night of February 5, Trump noted that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “must be very concerned.”
