Iran Says Concluded 'Difficult But Useful' Round of Nuclear Talks With U.S.

AP

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Following their fourth round of negotiations over their nuclear programme with the United States, Iran announced that they they concluded difficult but useful talks to better understand each other's positions.

"The fourth round of indirect Iran-U.S. negotiations is concluded; difficult but useful talks to better understand each other's positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences," said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei in a post on X.

The U.S. negotiators were "encouraged" by the discussions, an unnamed U.S. official told the Associated Press and the French news agency AFP.

"Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements," the U.S. source was quoted as saying. 

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, further stated that the next round of talks between the two countries is set to take place "in the near future."

The discussions in Oman led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff "were again both direct and indirect, and lasted over 3 hours," A News quoted a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements. We are encouraged by today's outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future," the official added.

U.S. Special Envoy Witkoff, speaking before Sunday's talks, said Washington's red line would be any enrichment of uranium whatsoever.

"An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again," he told the right-wing outlet Breitbart. "That's our red line."

Witkoff added that this means Iran's enrichment facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan "have to be dismantled."

Meanwhile, Iran stated that its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes is "non-negotiable."

"Enrichment capability is one of the honours and achievements of the Iranian nation," said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a video before departing to Muscat.



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