Iran delegation holds 'indirect' nuclear talks with US in Oman, state media says
Tehran last month rejected direct negotiations with the United States.
LONDON -- An Iranian delegation arrived in Oman's capital, Muscat, on Saturday to meet with U.S. officials for "indirect talks" about Tehran's nuclear program, Iranian state-owned news agency IRIB reported.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted to their telegram channel Saturday that the talks ended after two and a half hours. It says the two parties "exchanged the positions of their respective governments" on Iran's nuclear program and on sanctions.
The statement says talks will continue next week and notes that the heads of both delegations spoke to each other "for a few minutes" in the presence of Oman's foreign minister as they left.
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spoke directly with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as part of "very positive and constructive" talks in Oman, which will continue April 19.
"Special Envoy Witkoff underscored to Dr. Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations' differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible," the White House said in a statement. "These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff's direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. The sides agreed to meet again next Saturday."
President Trump previewed the Saturday talks earlier in the week, describing them as a "very big meeting" that was part of an ongoing dialogue.
"And hopefully those talks will be successful," he said at the White House on Monday. "And I think it would be in Iran's best interests if they are successful."
Tehran last month had rejected a U.S. offer for direct negotiations. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, described Saturday's meeting as "as much an opportunity as it is a test." His ministry said Iran was dedicated to giving diplomacy a chance.
"We intend to assess the other side's intent & resolve this Saturday," the ministry's spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, said on social media on Friday. "We shall reflect and respond accordingly."
-ABC News' Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.
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