USA and Iran at the table. “Good start” of talks in Oman

Negotiations between Iran and the United States through Oman have ended but will continue, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said on Friday. He added that Iran is only talking to the US about nuclear issues.

– It was a good start to the negotiations. There is agreement to continue talks. The decision on coordination regarding further steps will be made in the capitals, the foreign minister announced on Iranian television.

He added that negotiators from both sides would return to their countries for consultations and the “wall of distrust” should be broken.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who acted as an intermediary, wrote on X that “very serious talks” had taken place between Iran and the US.

On the American side, the talks were attended by the special envoy of the US President, Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, while the Iranian delegation was led by Aragchi.

Both sides assured their readiness to resume negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, which raises concerns in the West. However, Washington wanted to expand the topic of talks to include Iran's ballistic missile program, Iran's support for armed groups in the region such as Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the treatment of its own citizens by the Iranian authorities.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said they will not discuss Iranian missiles. They also emphasized that they wanted recognition of the fact that Iran has the right to enrich uranium.

Aragchi said after the end of Friday's talks that Iran was talking to the US only about nuclear issues.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with intervention, including a military attack, in recent weeks. The US has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East, and Iran announced that in the event of aggression it would respond by attacking American military installations in the region. (PAP)

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