The first page of an Iranian newspaper informing about the result of US negotiations – Iran Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami / AFP / Profimedia
Iran and the United States are about to meet again on April 26 in Oman for a third round of discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue, after the indirect discussions in Rome on Saturday, which, according to Tehran, allowed negotiations to “advance”, AFP reports.
The discussions took place one week after the first dialogue in Oman between the two countries, which are enemies from the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
“The negotiations are advancing,” said the head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Aragchchi, after this second round of discussions mediated by Sultanate Oman. “It was a good meeting,” he added.
“We will meet again next Saturday in Oman,” Araghchi announced on Iranian state television, adding that “technical discussions at expert level will start on Wednesday.”
An agreement is sought for “an Iran without nuclear and sanctions”
According to diplomats in Oman, Tehran and Washington seek a “fair, durable and mandatory” agreement to ensure “an Iran without nuclear and sanctions”.
“The discussions take advantage and even the unlikely now becomes possible,” said the omanese foreign minister Badr Albusaidi for X.
Leaded by Araghchi and the US messenger for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Saturday's discussions lasted four hours.
The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaïl Baghaï, said that the two delegations settled “in two different rooms” in the residence of the Omanese ambassador in Rome and that the head of the diplomat of the Gulf sultan acted as a mediator.
Iranian television and Tasnim news agency reported that the discussions took place in a “constructive atmosphere”.
Trump puts pressure on Iran, threatening with the military option
This is the second meeting at this level since the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018, under the first presidency of Donald Trump, from the international agreement that provided for a framework for Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for raising international sanctions.
Since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has relaunched his policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran, with whom the United States has no more diplomatic relations since 1980.
In March, he appealed to Tehran to negotiate a new agreement, but threatened to bomb Iran if diplomacy fails.
However, Trump said on Thursday that he “does not rush” to use the military option. “I think Iran wants to discuss,” he said.
