Iran, US hold productive talks on Tehran's nuclear program

A source close to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the meeting took place. It lasted several hours and then concluded.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television after the talks that the parties exchanged written comments during the discussions. He described them as "very serious and work-focused."

"This time, the negotiations were much more serious than in the past, and we gradually entered into deeper and more detailed discussions. We have moved somewhat away from broader, general discussions, though it is not the case that all disagreements have been resolved. Differences still exist both on major issues and on the details," he said.

At the same time, a senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the talks were "positive and productive."

"This latest round of direct and indirect discussions lasted over four hours. There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal. We agreed to meet again soon, in Europe, and we thank our Omani partners for facilitating these talks," the official said.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who served as a mediator in the two previous rounds of talks, also expressed a positive view following Saturday's discussions. He stated that Iran and the US "identified a shared aspiration to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments."

"Core principles, objectives, and technical concerns were all addressed. Talks will continue next week with a further high-level meeting provisionally scheduled for May 3," al-Busaidi posted on X.

Yesterday, Axios reported that during talks on April 19, Iran's Foreign Minister informed Witkoff that the 60-day deadline for a nuclear deal proposed by Donald Trump might be unrealistic.

According to Axios, Araghchi suggested considering the possibility of an interim agreement.