Iran

[ORAC]

Axios:

Plans for Iran nuclear talks are collapsing, U.S. officials say

The U.S. told Iran on Wednesday that it will not agree to Tehran's demands to change the location and format of talks planned for Friday, two U.S. officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The standoff could block the diplomatic path and convince President Trump to opt for military action.

Driving the news:The U.S. and Iran had agreed to meet on Friday in Istanbul, with other Middle Eastern countries participating as observers.

• But the Iranians said on Tuesday that they wanted to move the talks to Oman and hold them in a bilateral format, in order to ensure that they focused only on nuclear issues and not other matters like missiles that are priorities for the U.S. and countries in the region.
• U.S. officials considered the request to change the location, but decided on Wednesday to reject it.

Friction point: "We told them it is this or nothing, and they said, 'Ok, then nothing,'" a senior U.S. official said......