Iran
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US representative Steve Witkoff. File photo: Rudaw graphic (IRNA, AFP)
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran said the first round of talks with the United States in Oman on Saturday were “constructive” and discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief will continue next week.
“The talks in the first session were constructive. There were four exchanges of messages between the Iranian and American sides, with the Omani side returning,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Tasnim news agency reported.
The talks between Araghchi and US representative Steve Witkoff were indirect. The two parties were in separate rooms with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi mediating between them. Iran’s state-run IRNA reported that Araghchi, Witkoff and Albusaidi met as they were leaving the venue of the talks and chatted for a few minutes.
Saturday’s discussion had the two sides exchange “the viewpoints of their respective governments with regards to the Iranian nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on the Islamic Republic,” the Iranian foreign ministry said, according to IRNA. They have agreed to meet again next week.
The White House, in a statement, also described the talks as “positive and constructive.”
Confirming the continuation next week, the White House added that “these issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward toward achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.”
Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi in a post on X said, “I am proud to announce that today in Muscat we hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi and US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and mediated to begin a process of dialogue and negotiations with the shared aim of concluding a fair and binding agreement.”
He described the talks as “bridging viewpoints” in a friendly atmosphere that could help advance and secure regional stability.
US President Donald Trump would like to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran after he, in 2018, withdrew from a previous pact that saw Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. After exiting the deal, Trump imposed biting sanctions on the Islamic republic, which in turn began rolling back on its nuclear commitments.
Upon returning to office, Trump in early February restored his “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran, arguing that it is “too close” to a nuclear weapon. He has threatened military action if they fail to reach a deal.
Iran has always maintained that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. In a rare op-ed on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that “under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.”
Updated at 10:35 pm
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