TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's nuclear talks with the United States will be held in Oman's Muscat on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday.
He said on social media platform X that the talks will take place at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), thanking the Omani side for "making all necessary arrangements."
Shortly after, several Western media outlets reported that Washington has agreed to hold the talks on Friday in Oman, after being lobbied by at least nine Mideast countries.
The announcement came after several media outlets reported earlier in the day that the talks could be cancelled over the two sides' disagreement on location and format.
Tensions between the two sides have shown no sign of easing despite the imminent talks.
On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command announced that a U.S. F-35C warplane "was forced" to shoot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea "in an act of self-defense," whereas Iran's Fars news agency said 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 has changed its military doctrine "from defensive to offensive" last year, and is "ready for any action from the enemies."
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should be "very worried," as Washington builds up its military forces in the Middle East. ■
