Iran and the United States are set to hold high-stakes negotiations in Oman on Friday over Tehran's nuclear programme, but a dispute over the agenda suggests progress will be hard won amid the threat of a regional Middle East war.

The United States' travel advisory comes just ahead of high-level talks scheduled on Friday with Iranian officials in Oman, where diplomats are expected to address Iran’s nuclear programme and wider regional issues.

Iran’s president says he has instructed the country’s foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the United States

Iran and the United States are holding talks on Friday in Oman, with Tehran pushing to focus squarely on its nuclear programme, while Washington's demands go beyond that. The two foes had held several rounds of Oman-mediated nuclear talks in 2025,

The United States has issued an urgent advisory asking its citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, hours after US President Donald Trump is.

The wide-ranging chat between the leaders included China's plans for doing business with Iran and unification with Taiwan.

Iran's leadership warned of a regional conflict on Sunday if the U.S. were to attack it, and designated EU armies as "terrorist groups" in a retaliatory move.

Even with US forces poised to strike Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CNN that he was “confident that we can achieve a deal” on Tehran’s nuclear program.