U.S. calls talks with Iran in Oman a "step forward"

(AFP) The United States called the talks it held Saturday with Iran over its nuclear program a "step forward," following threats by Donald Trump to launch a military operation if negotiations fail.

These are the first such contacts between the two countries since 2018, when the first Republican administration withdrew the United States from the 2015 agreement between Iran and major powers to limit its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of economic sanctions.

Both sides announced that the talks will resume next Saturday, without specifying where. Those held on Saturday took place behind closed doors in Mascat, the capital of Oman, with the participation of Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

The Omani foreign minister, Badr al Busaidi, acted as an intermediary in the appointment, although the negotiators spoke directly for "a few minutes," the Iranian foreign ministry detailed.

The White House said the talks were "very positive and constructive" and marked a "step forward."

"These issues are very complicated, and the direct Witkoff interaction today was a step forward toward a mutually beneficial outcome," it said in a statement.

On the Air Force One presidential jet, Trump told reporters, "I think they're going well. But nothing matters until you shut it down."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abas Araqchi said that "the U.S. side said that a positive agreement is the one that can be reached as soon as possible," but added that "that will not be easy and will require will from both sides."

"In today's meeting, I think we came very close to a basis for negotiations," Araqchi said on Iranian state television. "If we can finalize it at the next meeting, we will have come a long way," he stressed. Neither side wants talks that "drag on forever."

The aim of the meetings is for the U.S. and Iran to conclude a new pact, after Tehran reneged on its commitments and moved closer to the uranium enrichment levels needed to make an atomic bomb.

Iran says negotiations with U.S. on nuclear program will remain "indirect" via Oman

Iran, which held talks with the United States on Saturday over the nuclear program, will continue "indirect" negotiations through the mediation of the sultanate of Oman, the Iranian diplomacy spokesman said Sunday.

"The negotiations will continue to be indirect and Oman will remain the mediator," he said on state television Esmail Baqai. "The only subject of the talks will be nuclear and the lifting of sanctions." Tehran and Washington agreed to continue negotiations on Saturday, April 19.