Iran demands changes in venue and scope of talks with US, source says

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2026. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Feb 3 - Iran is demanding that talks with the U.S. this ‌week be held in Oman not Turkey, and that the scope be narrowed ‌to two-way talks on nuclear issues only, a regional source said on Tuesday, casting doubt on whether the meeting will go ahead as planned.

Iran's effort to change the venue and agenda for the talks, currently scheduled for Friday ‍in Istanbul, came amid heightened tensions as the U.S. builds ‍up forces in the Middle East.