Iranian FM: Our optimism about success of the talks remains extremely cautious

Saturday’s nuclear talks with Iran were positive and productive, a senior US administration official said, adding that both sides agreed to meet again in Europe “soon”.

“There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal,” the official added.

Iran and the United States have agreed to continue nuclear talks on Saturday, though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced “extreme caution” about the success of the negotiations to resolve a decades-long standoff.

Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a third round of the talks in Muscat through Omani mediators for around six hours, a week after a second round in Rome that both sides described as constructive.

“The negotiations are extremely serious and technical … there are still differences, both on major issues and on details,” Araqchi told Iranian state TV.

“There is seriousness and determination on both sides … However, our optimism about success of the talks remains extremely cautious.”

Ahead of the lead negotiators’ meeting, expert-level indirect talks took place in Muscat to design a framework for a potential nuclear deal.

“The presence of experts was beneficial … we will return to our capitals for further reviews to see how disagreements can be reduced,” Araqchi said.

An Iranian official, briefed about the talks, told Reuters earlier that the expert-level negotiations were “difficult, complicated and serious”.

The only aim of these talks, Araqchi said, was “to build confidence about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief”.

Shortly after Araqchi and Witkoff began their latest indirect talks on Saturday, Iranian state media reported a massive explosion at the country’s Rajaee port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, killing dozens and injuring hundreds.