The US and Iran will engage in additional nuclear discussions following a recent set of meetings in Oman. This included the initial technical dialogue between both parties concerning Tehran’s sophisticated nuclear program.
The third round of discussions held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Saturday was described as “positive and productive” by US officials, lasting over four hours in total. The latest sessions featured both direct and indirect communications among staff.
“There is still work ahead, but we have made further headway toward finalizing the agreement. We’ve agreed to reconvene soon in Europe. We appreciate our partners in Oman for facilitating these dialogues,” stated a senior US administration official, speaking on background about the internal discussions.
Saturday’s dialogue involved a team of specialists led by President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi.
The US team, headed by senior State Department official Michael Anton, was met by an Iranian expert team led by Vice Minister Majid Tahitt-e-Lavanchi.
After the meeting, Araghchi noted that the discussions were extensive, though significant issues remained unresolved.
“This round of negotiations is much more serious compared to previous efforts, and we have begun to engage in more in-depth discussions,” Aragchi told Iranian television. According to the Associated Press. “We remain somewhat apart from the broader general discussion, and while not all disagreements are settled, we still have differences on key issues as well as specifics.”
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busadi remarked that the talks in Muscat reflect a shared desire to achieve an agreement rooted in mutual respect and a commitment to lasting outcomes.
“All principal issues, objectives, and technical concerns have been addressed,” Oman’s Foreign Minister stated on Saturday, adding in a post on the social media platform X that discussions will carry on next week, with another meeting tentatively set for Saturday, May 3rd.
The two delegations previously held their last consultation in Rome, where US officials mentioned achieving “very good” progress.
In a recent interview with Time Magazine published on Friday, Trump indicated optimism about reaching a deal while cautioning the Islamic Republic about the possibility of military action should diplomacy fail.
The president asserted his intent to thwart Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, having withdrawn from the 2015 Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement in 2018. Since that time, Iran has been hastening its uranium enrichment.
Saturday’s discussions followed a significant explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajay port, resulting in eight fatalities and injuring 750 individuals.
