In a significant development amidst ongoing tensions, Iran’s Foreign Minister has announced that nuclear discussions between Iran and the United States are slated for Friday in Oman. This announcement comes in the wake of Tehran’s forceful suppression of nationwide protests last month, adding to the already strained relations between the two nations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed this update after initial signals suggested potential delays due to disagreements over the structure and topics of the negotiations. Araghchi expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements,” in a message shared on X on Wednesday evening.

Coinciding with this diplomatic effort, Iranian military leaders visited a missile base on Wednesday, underscoring the country’s military readiness following a 12-day conflict with Israel in June that heavily impacted Iran’s air defenses. The base is equipped with the Khorramshahr missile, capable of reaching distances over 2,000 kilometers, and was fired towards Israel during last year’s conflict.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his country’s stance against foreign intervention in Iran, advocating instead for the resolution of disputes through dialogue. Turkey has been actively mediating over the past week to facilitate a meeting between the US and Iran, having initially been considered as the host for these critical discussions.

Also Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s opposition to foreign intervention in neighbouring Iran, calling for the resolution of issues through dialogue.

Turkey has been urgently working for the past week to bring the US and Iran to the negotiating table, and was previously expected to host the talks.

“We believe that external interventions involving our neighbour Iran would pose significant risks for the entire region,” Erdogan said during a visit to Cairo. “Resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear file, through diplomatic means is the most appropriate approach.”