Iran and the United States are set to hold talks in Oman's capital, Muscat, on Friday, officials confirmed Wednesday, after days of public disagreement over the venue and agenda exposed deep mistrust between the two sides.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said on the social media platform X that the talks will begin at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), thanking Oman for "making all necessary arrangements."

Western media later reported that Washington agreed to the Muscat meeting after at least nine Middle Eastern countries urged the U.S. not to cancel the talks, amid growing regional concerns that the Trump administration could turn to military action if diplomacy collapses.

The announcement followed earlier reports from U.S. media suggesting the talks were at risk of being called off due to disputes over the location and format. The two sides had reportedly initially agreed to meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, with several regional countries attending as observers. Iran later proposed shifting the talks to Oman and limiting them to a strictly bilateral format focused solely on nuclear issues, a move that reportedly triggered U.S. anger.

Axios, citing a U.S. official, reported that failure to reach a deal could lead Washington to consider "other options," including military action. One U.S. official was quoted as saying the United States had informed Arab countries it would continue meeting with Iran to hear its position, though Washington remained skeptical. Another official said the Trump administration agreed to proceed out of respect for regional allies and in order to keep diplomacy alive.

Iran's strategic considerations

Li Zixin, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said Iran's push to move the talks from Istanbul to Muscat reflects multiple strategic calculations.

Li noted that Oman has a stronger reputation as a neutral mediator and maintains long-standing friendly ties with both Tehran and Washington, offering Iran a more controlled and familiar diplomatic environment. By contrast, Türkiye's NATO membership and higher political sensitivity could make the talks more vulnerable to external influence.

Li added that Iran's insistence on limiting the talks to a bilateral format aims to prevent U.S. allies from joining as observers and coordinating pressure on Tehran, while also avoiding an expanded agenda. Iran, he said, wants to signal to regional countries that the current confrontation is primarily between Tehran and Washington, rather than between Iran and its neighbors.

Iran has also demanded that negotiations focus solely on nuclear issues and sanctions relief, rejecting any attempt to include its missile program or regional alliances. Li said this reflects the ongoing struggle between Washington's "maximum pressure" approach and Iran's countermeasures, underscoring a deep lack of strategic trust.

Military posturing intensifies

The talks come as both sides ramp up military preparations. The United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks, deploying major naval and air assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers. Iran has also stepped up its military readiness.

On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said a U.S. F-35C jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone over the Arabian Sea in "self-defense," a claim Iran countered by saying the drone completed a "surveillance mission" in international waters.

On Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps unveiled a new underground missile base, saying it had shifted its doctrine "from defensive to offensive" following last year's 12-day war with Israel and was prepared for any hostile action.

Trump also warned Wednesday that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should be "very worried," as Washington continues building up forces in the region.

Competing agendas, uncertain outcome

Despite the agreement to meet, the two sides remain far apart on the substance of negotiations.

Iran insists talks must be limited to nuclear issues and the removal of U.S. sanctions, stressing that its missile capabilities and regional activities are non-negotiable.

In contrast, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that any "meaningful" negotiations must also cover Iran's ballistic missile program, its regional influence, support for what Washington calls "terrorist organizations," and its domestic governance.

Meanwhile, Israel has urged Washington to adopt a tougher stance, demanding that Iran halt uranium enrichment, abandon missile development, and end support for allied groups across the region. Analysts note that Trump's "America First" approach has fueled speculation that he is reluctant to become deeply entangled in Middle East conflicts, preferring instead to rely on military pressure and diplomatic leverage while trying to prevent a direct confrontation from spiraling out of control.

The anticipated talks revive a diplomatic track that collapsed last June, leading to U.S. airstrikes on Iran. Previous negotiations stalled over Washington's demand for zero uranium enrichment and restrictions on Iran's missile development and regional proxies – conditions Tehran has repeatedly rejected.