Trump discusses with Oman sultan ways to support US-Iran nuclear talks

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Oman’s ruler Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, discussing ways to support nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, the Omani state news agency reported on Tuesday.

Oman has provided the venue for talks, a second round of which is set to be held in Muscat on Saturday.

Separately, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he was neither “overly optimistic nor pessimistic” about the talks with the U.S., in an apparent move by Tehran to play down growing public expectations of a deal.

“From here on, it (the talks) must be followed through carefully, with red lines clearly defined for both the other side and for us. The negotiations may lead to results, or they may not,” Khamenei said, calling to “avoid linking the country’s fate to these talks.”