The United States and Iran are preparing for a second round of nuclear talks in Oman on April 26, after a “very good progress ” during Saturday’s conversations in Rome, a US official told Associated Press.
US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s deputy foreign secretary Abbas Araghchi held a rare face-to-face meet, a unique occurrence in US-Iran politics.
Araghchi had said before that technical-level deals would take place this week to copper out information. Speaking on Egyptian state television, he described the Rome speaks as “constructive” and expressed desire for more development before the Oman meeting. “We reached a better understanding about a sort of rules and goals, ” he added.
While the US acknowledged both direct and indirect markets, Iranian authorities insisted that most discussions were also conducted through intermediaries. Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been acting as a go-between, said, “These deals are gaining speed and now even the improbable is possible. ”
Trump, speaking on Friday, repeated his place: “I’m for stopping Iran, quite just, from having a nuclear weapon. ”
Ahead of the Rome talks, Witkoff met with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ), which could play a role in monitoring any new agreement. Grossi even met with Araghchi.
But, Iran remains organization on its nuclear right. Older Egyptian director Ali Shamkhani said on social media that Iran is seeking a “balanced deal, not a retreat. ” This comment followed mixed messages from Witkoff on whether Iran could continue low-level enrichment.
