Iran's president has instructed the foreign minister to pursue negotiations with the United States. This marks a shift amid high tensions following Iran's crackdown on protests.

Iran's president said Tuesday he instructed the country's foreign minister to "pursue fair and equitable negotiations" with the United States, the first clear sign from Tehran it wants to try to negotiate as tensions remain high with Washington after the Mideast country's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month.

Iran and the United States will hold talks Friday in Oman, their latest over Tehran's nuclear program after Israel launched a 12-day war on the country in June and the Islamic Republic launched a

Ahead of talks, White House says Trump has 'many options at his disposal' as Iran insists talks focus only on nuclear issues, not missiles or support for terror proxies The post Round of US-Iran indirect talks in Oman,

Differences over the scope for the talks have also cast doubts on whether it will still go ahead, keeping open the risk of U.S. military action.

"Riyadh is firmly opposed to any US or Israeli military action against Iran at this stage," a former Saudi adviser told Newsweek.

Trump threatens Iran with military action while pursuing diplomatic talks. Recent drone shootdowns escalate tensions as diplomatic summit approaches.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that U.S., Israeli and European leaders had exploited Iran's economic problems, incited unrest and provided people with the means to "tear the nation apart" in recent protests.