Iran agrees to discuss proxy terror, ballistic missile arsenal in US negotiations - NYT - Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

The talks between Iran and US are still set to focus on Iran's nuclear program and capabilities, NYT noted, citing three Iranian officials and one Arab official.

 

A banner with a photo of a new hypersonic ballistic missile called "Fattah" and with text reading "400 seconds to Tel Aviv" is seen on a street in Tehran, Iran June 8, 2023

(photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

Iran has agreed to discuss its ballistic missile program and its use of proxy terror groups in talks with the United States slated for Friday morning, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing three Iranian officials and one Arab official.

Tehran conceded on the issue after "everyone had given an inch" following a bust-up in talks that caused the two parties to temporarily cancel negotiations on Wednesday.

The talks between Iran and the US are still set to focus on Iran's nuclear program and capabilities, the NYT noted, citing the officials.

US-Iran talks were close to collapse over scope of negotiations

On Wednesday, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post that talks "have collapsed," noting that the Iranians had been demanding to only discuss the nuclear issue while the Americans wanted to talk about ballistic missiles, Iran's regional terror proxies, and other issues.

Additionally, regional sources told the Post that Arab mediators had tried to persuade Tehran to discuss other matters, but the Iranians affirmed on Tuesday, "We are only ready for the nuclear issue."

Women walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, February 5, 2026 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

Furthermore, Iran requested to move the venue of negotiations from Turkey to Oman, where previous indirect talks between Tehran and Washington DC took place last year.

However, later on Wednesday evening, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that talks would take place in the Omani capital, Muscat, at 10 a.m. on Friday.

After Araghchi published his statement, however, sources told the Post that Arab mediators had attempted to convince the Americans to drop their position that the talks focus on issues beyond nuclear talks so that discussions could take place. 

The American position that these broader talks still must be held, however, remained unchanged. 

Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-885729

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