US told Iran on Wednesday that it will not agree to Tehran's demands to change the location and format of talks planned for Friday, Axios reports; US officials considered the request to change the location, but decided on Wednesday to reject it

• US told them it is this or nothing, and they said, 'Ok, then nothing,'" a senior US official said.
• The official said that if the Iranians are willing to go back to the original format, the U.S. is ready to meet this week or next week.
• "We want to reach a real deal quickly or people will look at other options," the senior official said, alluding to Trump's repeated threats of military action.
• White House envoy Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to Qatar on Thursday to discuss the situation with Iran.
• From there, according to the current plan, they are expected to return to Miami and not continue to Oman for a meeting with the Iranians.

The U.S. has firmly rejected Iran's request to alter the format and location of upcoming talks, signaling a potential impasse in negotiations. This stance may lead to increased tensions, particularly if diplomatic efforts fail and military options are revisited. Traders should watch for reactions in energy markets, as any escalation could impact oil prices, alongside shifts in the Forex market, particularly for the USD in relation to impacted currencies.