The talks, which lasted about two and a half hours, were the highest-level diplomatic contact between the two nations since 2018. The negotiations were largely indirect; the delegations were in separate rooms, with messages being relayed through Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi.
A brief face-to-face meeting also took place between US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for a few minutes. Iran emphasized that the exchange was limited and no photographs were shared regarding the meeting.
The White House stated that the discussions were “positive and constructive,” and reported that Witkoff had been authorized to "resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy."
Iran stressed that only its nuclear program was the subject of negotiations, while defense systems such as ballistic missiles would be kept off the table. Araghchi expressed that their goal was to reach a “fair agreement.”
The second round of talks is expected to take place next week. Oman will continue to mediate, but the talks may take place in another country. Both parties agreed to avoid futile negotiations that would lead to time-wasting.
The Trump administration is seeking a new agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while Iran proposes limiting its program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
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