Overview

• US and Iranian representatives are scheduled to meet in Oman on Saturday for direct and indirect talks aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
• President Donald Trump has set a clear deadline for reaching an agreement, threatening military action with Israel taking a leading role if negotiations collapse.
• Iranian officials maintain they are not pursuing nuclear arms and have floated the possibility of allowing American investment if a deal is reached.
• The US has bolstered its military presence in the region, deploying bombers and positioning an aircraft carrier as a deterrent in case talks fail.
• Iran has warned it might expel IAEA inspectors in response to external threats, raising concerns about the future of international nuclear oversight.