The United States and Iran concluded a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday, agreeing to meet again in a week's time, according to Iran's foreign ministry.
The Oman-mediated talks in Rome lasted about four hours, with Iranian state television describing the atmosphere as "constructive."
"The two sides agreed to resume indirect talks at a technical level in the coming days, followed by another session with senior negotiators next Saturday, April 26," Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.
Iran later added that the third round of talks would take place in Oman, returning to the site of the initial dialogue held a week ago.
The two sides "have agreed to enter into the next phase of discussions aimed at sealing a fair, enduring, and binding agreement that will ensure Iran is completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, while maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy," Oman's foreign ministry said on X.
Oman's Foreign Minister added that the talks between the United States and Iran are gaining momentum, stating that "an agreement is now possible."
These discussions mark the first high-level talks between the two countries since US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the landmark nuclear agreement in 2018.
Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons—an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, asserting that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.
Images broadcast by state TV showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in the Italian capital, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff also expected to participate.
Araghchi later described the meeting as a "good meeting" that yielded progress.
"This time, we managed to reach a better understanding on several principles and goals," he told state TV.
He also told the Tasnim news agency that the nuclear issue was the only topic discussed.
Baqaei stated that the delegations had been "in separate rooms" at the Omani ambassador's residence, with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi relaying messages between them.
Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
Following his return to office in January, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran.
In March, he sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging renewed nuclear talks while also warning of military action if diplomacy failed.
"I'm not in a rush to use the military option," Trump said on Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."
On Friday, Araghchi noted that Iran "observed a degree of seriousness" from the US during the first round but questioned their "intentions and motivations."
In an early Saturday social media post, Baqaei said Tehran was clear-eyed about the talks, "relying on past experiences."
The leader of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, is due to visit Moscow in the coming days, according to his office and the Kremlin, which said he would discuss "current questions on the international and regional agenda" and other issues with President Vladimir Putin.
'Crucial Stage'
In an interview published Wednesday by the French newspaper Le Monde, Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, said Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb.
During Trump's first term, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers, which had offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
Tehran complied with the agreement for a year after Trump's withdrawal before gradually scaling back its compliance.
Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His US counterpart, Witkoff, is a real estate magnate who Trump has also tasked with leading talks on Ukraine.
Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60%, well above the 3.67% limit set by the deal but still below the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries, who are members of the agreement, to decide whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 accord. This mechanism would automatically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran for its non-compliance.
The option to trigger the mechanism expires in October this year.
Iran has previously warned that it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered.
Grossi, who met with Iranian officials in Tehran this week, said the US and Iran are "at a very crucial stage" in their negotiations and "don't have much time" to secure a deal.
'Non-Negotiable'
Iranian officials have insisted that the talks focus solely on its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
Araghchi stated that a deal with the US was "likely" if Washington refrained from "unreasonable and unrealistic demands," though he did not elaborate.
Analysts had speculated that the United States would push for discussions on Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for militant groups in the Middle East.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran's right to enrich uranium is "non-negotiable," after Witkoff called for its complete cessation. Witkoff had previously only demanded that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal.
On Friday, US ally Israel reaffirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, stating it had a "clear course of action" to achieve this.
With AFP
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