Top Iranian and U.S. negotiators began a new round of indirect talks on Saturday in Muscat, seeking to broker a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, as President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
Top Iranian and U.S. negotiators began a new round of indirect talks on Saturday to hammer out a deal curbing Tehran's nuclear programme, while U.S. President Donald Trump signalled confidence in clinching a new pact that would block Iran's path to a nuclear bomb.
Experts met before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was due to negotiate indirectly with Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on Saturday through Omani mediators, a week after a second round in Rome that both sides described as constructive.
Trump has spent the beginning of his second term in office trying to broker deals on some of the world's biggest conflicts and crises, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel's assault on Gaza and the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear programme.
The Islamic Republic, for its part, has signalled it is keen to get sanctions' relief as its economy continues to suffer, and after more than a year of military setbacks at the hands of its regional foe Israel.
Iranian state media reported on Saturday that talks had begun. "A third round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America started in Muscat," news agency IRNA said, without giving other details.
A source close to the Iranian negotiating team said that experts from both sides met on Saturday.
Talks are set to start at expert-level, which will begin drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal, ahead of an indirect meeting between the lead negotiators.
Trump, in an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, said "I think we're going to make a deal with Iran", but he repeated a threat of military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
While both Tehran and Washington have said they are set on pursuing diplomacy, they remain far apart on a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two decades.
MAXIMUM PRESSURE
Trump, who has restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran since February, ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.
Since 2019, Iran has breached the pact's nuclear curbs including "dramatically" accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran would have to entirely stop enriching uranium under a deal, and import any enriched uranium it needed to fuel its sole functioning atomic energy plant, Bushehr.
Tehran is willing to negotiate some curbs on its nuclear work in return for the lifting of sanctions, according to Iranian officials, but ending its enrichment programme or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile are among "Iran's red lines that could not be compromised" in the talks.
Moreover, European states have suggested to U.S. negotiators that a comprehensive deal should include limits preventing Iran from acquiring or finalising the capacity to put a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, several European diplomats said.
Tehran insists its defence capabilities like its missile programme are not negotiable and Tehran's clerical rulers say its missile programme poses no threat to regional countries. An Iranian official with knowledge of the talks said on Friday that Tehran sees its missile programme as a bigger obstacle in the talks.
Iran fired scores of ballistic missiles at Israel last year after Israel assassinated Iranian commanders and allied paramilitary leaders in a regional escalation sparked by the Gaza war.
President Donald Trump has expressed scepticism over Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting that peace may not be achievable soon, despite earlier comments indicating proximity to a deal.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
Saudi Arabia on Friday unveiled its annual report highlighting the Kingdom’s advancements toward achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 during the year 2024.
Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
Top Iranian and U.S. negotiators began a new round of indirect talks on Saturday in Muscat, seeking to broker a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, as President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
President Donald Trump has expressed scepticism over Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting that peace may not be achievable soon, despite earlier comments indicating proximity to a deal.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran on Saturday killed at least four people and injured nearly 600 others, officials said, prompting an urgent government investigation.
Saudi Arabia on Friday unveiled its annual report highlighting the Kingdom’s advancements toward achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 during the year 2024.
Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
President Donald Trump has expressed scepticism over Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting that peace may not be achievable soon, despite earlier comments indicating proximity to a deal.
A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran on Saturday killed at least four people and injured nearly 600 others, officials said, prompting an urgent government investigation.
Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Qatar on Sunday to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties and coordinate on key regional matters, continuing the momentum from recent diplomatic exchanges.
Foreign ministers from Central Asia and China gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday for the sixth meeting under the Central Asia-China format, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and address shared challenges.
President Donald Trump has expressed scepticism over Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting that peace may not be achievable soon, despite earlier comments indicating proximity to a deal.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran on Saturday killed at least four people and injured nearly 600 others, officials said, prompting an urgent government investigation.
Saudi Arabia on Friday unveiled its annual report highlighting the Kingdom’s advancements toward achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 during the year 2024.
Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
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