Istanbul Talks Set to Resemble Regional Summit as U.S.–Iran Seek to Avert Escalation

A planned meeting between the United States and Iran in Istanbul this Friday is expected to take on the scale and significance of a regional summit, with several key Middle Eastern and South Asian states joining efforts to defuse rising tensions, according to diplomatic sources and international media reports.
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‎The talks will include the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar, alongside delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Oman. Officials familiar with the preparations say the expanded format reflects growing regional concern over the risk of direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
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‎Multiple news agencies report that these countries are positioning themselves as potential mediators and guarantors of any future understanding between the two longtime adversaries. Their involvement is aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and preventing further military or political escalation.
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‎However, the agenda remains sensitive. According to the Washington Post, the mediating states have already warned U.S. officials that any attempt to raise Iran’s ballistic missile program during the Istanbul talks would prompt Tehran to immediately withdraw from the negotiations. Iranian officials have long maintained that their missile capabilities are non-negotiable and strictly defensive.
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‎Diplomatic sources say the focus of the meeting is expected to remain narrowly centered on de-escalation measures and confidence-building steps, rather than broader security disputes. Whether the Istanbul talks can produce concrete outcomes remains uncertain, but the unusually broad regional participation underscores the high stakes for stability across the Middle East and beyond.