Iran, U.S. hold indirect nuclear talks in Oman

Iran and the U.S. held "productive" talks in Oman and agreed to reconvene next week, Tehran said, a dialogue meant to address Tehran's escalating nuclear program with President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the talks - a first between Iran and a Trump administration, including his first term in 2017-21 - took place in a "productive, calm and positive atmosphere."

Exchanges were indirect and mediated by Oman, as Iran had wanted, rather than face-to-face, as Trump had demanded. Each delegation had its separate room and exchanged messages via Oman's foreign minister, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

While each side has talked up the chances of some progress, they remain far apart on a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two decades. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons capability, but Western countries and Israel believe it is covertly trying to develop the means to build an atomic bomb.

With Oman's mediation, Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, led the first round of indirect talks in Muscat, Oman.

Araghchi announced that the next round of discussions is expected to take place on April 19 at the same level. He said that while Oman will continue to act as mediator, the venue for the next session may change.

Araghchi added that the discussions aim to create a structured agenda for the negotiations based on a timeline. 

“We agreed to hold a second round next Saturday, and in the next session, we will delve into the overall framework that a deal can take to see how far this process can advance,” he said. 

Signs of progress could help cool tensions in a region aflame since 2023 with wars in Gaza and Lebanon, missile fire between Iran and Israel, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and the overthrow of the government in Syria.