Talks with U.S. will focus solely on nuclear issue and lifting of sanctions, Baqaei says
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the upcoming talks with the United States slated for next weekend will remain “indirect” with Omani mediation and will focus solely on the nuclear issue and lifting sanctions.
“Negotiations will continue to be indirect. Oman will remain the mediator, but we are discussing the location of future negotiations,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with state TV, adding that the talks would only focus on “the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.”
Iran and the US said they held “positive” and “constructive” talks in Oman.
“I think we are very close to a basis for negotiations, and if we can conclude this basis next week, we’ll have gone a long way and will be able to start real discussions based on that,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television.
Araghchi said the talks – the first between Iran and a Trump administration, including his 2017-2021 first term – took place in a “productive, calm and positive atmosphere”.
“Both sides have agreed to continue the talks … probably next Saturday,” Araghchi added. “Iran and the US side want an agreement in the short term. We do not want talks for (the sake of) talks.”
The White House called the talks involving Trump’s Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff, US Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima and Araghchi “very positive and constructive”.
“These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” it said in a statement. “The sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.”
Iranian officials had signalled before Saturday that should the first round go well, Araghchi could soon meet with Witkoff directly.
