Talks with US set to continue after ‘good beginning’, Iran’s foreign minister says
Senior US and Iranian Officials Continue Talks Amid Escalating Tensions
Senior US and Iranian officials are set to continue discussions following talks in Oman, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The negotiations, held amid a growing crisis, have sparked fears of a potential conflict between the two nations. Araghchi described the mediated talks as a “good beginning” and emphasized that they were “exclusively nuclear,” with negotiators now returning to their capitals for further consultations.
Ahead of the discussions, US officials expressed interest in addressing Iran’s ballistic missile program and its backing of regional armed groups, highlighting the persistent differences in the countries’ positions. No immediate US reaction has been announced following the talks.
“The atmosphere of mistrust between the two sides must be overcome,” Araghchi stated during a press conference. He noted that details regarding the next round of negotiations would be determined later.
Friday’s talks were facilitated by Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who shared on social media that the discussions were “useful to clarify both Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress.”
The Iranian delegation was led by Araghchi, while the US was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. These talks marked the first direct engagement between US and Iranian officials since the June conflict between Israel and Iran, when the US bombed three key nuclear facilities in the country.
Despite the prospect of further meetings, the possibility of a deal remains uncertain due to lingering disagreements. For Iran’s leaders, the talks could offer a chance to prevent US military action that might exacerbate the regime’s current vulnerabilities, as analysts point out that the country is at its weakest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Trump’s threats to bomb Iran have intensified in recent weeks, coinciding with Iran’s harsh crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests. The protests, fueled by an economic crisis, saw demonstrators demanding the end of the Islamic Republic. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in Washington, reported at least 6,941 deaths and over 50,000 arrests, warning that the casualty count could be even higher.
The current standoff has reignited debates over Iran’s nuclear program, which has long been a point of contention with the West. For decades, Iran has asserted its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, yet the talks in Oman underscore the ongoing challenges in bridging this divide.
