Talks between the US and Iran aimed at de-escalating the tensions in the Middle East are back on for tomorrow, following an apparent double U-turn by Tehran.
Axios reported yesterday that the Islamic Republic was set to pull out of the negotiations, which will be led by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
A key sticking point is understood to be Washington's demand for restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme.
The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, estimates that the Islamic Republic is in possession of around 400kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity.
This is just a simple technical step away from the 90 per cent enrichment threshold to be considered weapons-grade.
However, reportedly after heavy lobbying by the leaders of Arab states, the talks will go ahead with only a change of venue from Istanbul to the Omani capital of Muscat.
One US official told Axios: "They asked us to keep the meeting and listen to what the Iranians have to say. We have told the Arabs that we will do the meeting if they insist. But we are very sceptical."
Another stated that the Trump administration had agreed to the changes "to be respectful" to its regional allies and "in order to continue pursuing the diplomatic track".
For his part, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, confirmed the talks would begin at 10am tomorrow, saying: "I'm grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements."
It comes after US forces stationed in the region downed an Iranian drone on Tuesday night.
The drone was being piloted towards the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that has been stationed around the Arabian Sea and the Gulf since last week, according to the US Central Command (Centcom).
Captain Tim Hawkins, a Centcom spokesman, said the Shahed-139 drone "aggressively approached" the ship with "unclear intent... despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters".
It was subsequently shot down by an F-35C fighter around 500 miles from the Islamic Republic's southern coast.
Just hours later, the US confirmed that Iranian vessels had also attempted to seize an American-flagged oil tanker, the Stena Imperative.
Two smaller boats and a Mohajer drone approached the tanker "at high speeds and threatened to board and seize" it.
The USS McFaul responded and proceeded to escort the Stena Imperative through the region "with defensive air support from the US Air Force," added Centcom.
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