Jackie Northam

There were plenty of changes to location and time and which countries would participate ahead of these negotiations in Oman's capital city, Muscat.

On the table for discussion is Iran's nuclear program, its support for proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and limiting its arsenal of ballistic missiles.

These are the first official talks the U.S.

and Iran have held since the U.S.

bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities last June.

Iran is in a weaker position than a year ago when Israel devastated its air defenses last summer.

The U.S.

has been building up its naval and air defense systems as a show of force in the region.

Jackie Northam, NPR News.

In a social media post, Iran's President Massoud Pazeshkian said that he had instructed Foreign Minister Abbas Adachi to, quote, pursue fair and equitable negotiations provided a suitable environment exists, one free from threats and unreasonable expectations.

The U.S.

wants Iran to give up its nuclear enrichment program.

and support for proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas and limit its ballistic missile arsenal.

All three are long-standing elements of Iranian power in the region.

Pazeshkian said the decision to negotiate came after requests from countries in the region to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Foreign Minister Araci and U.S.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are due to meet for talks in Turkey Friday.

Jackie Northam, NPR News.

There's been a real push by Mideast powers, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and others, as well as Turkey, to try and find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Iran has warned if the U.S.