Delegations from Both Countries Hold Two-Hour Nuclear Talks in Oman
Both Sides Give Positive Assessment: "Significant Progress"
The United States and Iran held the highest-level nuclear talks in Oman for the first time in 10 years. Although no immediate conclusion was reached, both sides evaluated the initial meeting positively and agreed to resume negotiations next week.
According to major foreign media including Reuters, the delegations led respectively by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East under President Donald Trump, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, held nuclear talks for about two hours on the 12th (local time) in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
After the talks, Minister Araghchi told Iran's state-run IRIB broadcast that the second round of nuclear negotiations is scheduled to take place in Oman on the 19th, one week later. He said, "We are very close to establishing a framework for the negotiations," adding, "The atmosphere of today's meeting was positive enough to ensure continuity and progress in the talks. If we can finalize the basis of the negotiations at the next meeting, we can consider it a significant advancement." Minister Araghchi also stated that both sides want to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
The U.S. White House also gave a positive assessment of the talks on the same day. In a statement, the White House said, "Positive and constructive discussions took place," and described it as "a significant step forward toward achieving mutually beneficial outcomes."
The nuclear talks were conducted indirectly under the mediation of the Omani Foreign Minister. Each delegation stayed in separate rooms and exchanged messages through the Omani Foreign Minister. However, Iran's state-run IRIB broadcast reported that toward the end of the negotiations, the two delegations briefly engaged in direct dialogue.
Minister Araghchi explained, "The two sides had a brief conversation when leaving the meeting room," adding, "This is a diplomatic custom, and we always observe diplomatic etiquette with U.S. diplomats. This time, it was just that level of greeting."
A source from the Omani government said, "The core objectives of this meeting were to ease regional tensions, exchange prisoners, and partially ease sanctions conditioned on controlling Iran's nuclear program," but the Iranian side denied this. However, they did not specify which parts were inaccurate.
According to an Iranian official, Minister Araghchi was granted full authority over the negotiations by the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The official told Reuters, "This meeting was solely about the nuclear issue, and the duration of the talks will depend on the seriousness and goodwill of the U.S. side."
This negotiation took place amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who last month sent a letter setting a "two-month deadline" to Iran. Reuters explained that while there is some possibility of progress, both the U.S. and Iran are cautiously approaching the talks, acknowledging the possibility that negotiations could fail.
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