Tehran [Iran], April 13 (ANI): The United States and Iran have concluded “indirect” negotiations in Muscat, Oman, and agreed to hold further talks next week. The discussions, mediated by Oman, aimed to address key issues between the two countries, Al Jazeera reported.
The talks were described as being conducted in a “constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff led their respective delegations, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi acting as chief mediator, according to Al Jazeera.
Araghchi was joined by his deputy for political affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi; deputy for international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi; and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.
Omani Foreign Minister al-Busaidi shuttled messages between the delegations, who remained in separate rooms throughout the negotiations.
Following the discussions, the White House issued a statement calling the talks “positive and constructive.”
“These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” the statement read, noting that both sides agreed to “meet again next Saturday.”
While former President Donald Trump and his officials had insisted the talks would be “direct” and “in the same room,” Tehran maintained that the negotiations would remain indirect.
Ahead of the talks, President Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, cautioning against failure to reach an agreement.
“I want them not to have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Florida Friday night.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the administration’s hardline stance, stating, “There will be all hell to pay” if the president’s demands are not met.
“We’ve been very clear that Iran is never going to have a nuclear weapon, and I think that’s what led to this meeting,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday. (ANI)
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