Iran has announced that it recently held "indirect talks" with the United States regarding its nuclear program. These discussions took place in Muscat, Oman, with officials from Oman mediating between the two sides, who were in separate rooms. Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, confirmed that more negotiations are planned for next week.
The talks concluded with both Iranian and Omani officials stating that the two countries agreed to continue discussions soon. Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, expressed gratitude to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for their participation, emphasizing the aim for "global peace, security, and stability."
According to Iranian state media, there was a brief exchange between US and Iranian officials at the end of the talks, which Araghchi also mentioned in a statement. He described the atmosphere of the meeting as constructive and based on mutual respect.
Before the meeting, Araghchi noted that there was potential for an initial understanding if the US approached the talks with an equal stance. He stressed that Iran is looking for a fair agreement and hopes for a productive dialogue.
Reports suggest that the discussions focused on reducing regional tensions, potential prisoner exchanges, and limited agreements to ease sanctions in return for Iran controlling its nuclear program. However, American officials have not yet commented on these reports.
This meeting marks the first engagement between the two nations since President Donald Trump began his second term. During his first term, Trump withdrew the US from a nuclear deal with Iran and reinstated sanctions, leading Iran to exceed the deal’s limits on uranium enrichment. While Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes, Western nations suspect it may have military ambitions.
Witkoff’s participation follows his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the US seeks to address multiple international issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. The outcome of these talks could significantly impact the future of US-Iran relations and regional stability.