Iran says talks with US might achieve results

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, emphasized the possibility of achieving a result in the ongoing Iran-US nuclear talks, state media reported late Saturday. 

“There is a possibility of achieving results in the talks if goodwill and realism continue,” Araghchi said during his phone call with Tajani, according to the state-owned IRNA news agency.  

Araghchi also thanked his Italian counterpart for his country’s cooperation with Oman in mediating the second round of nuclear talks with the United States on Saturday and briefed him on the progress made in the negotiations.

Earlier on Saturday, Araghchi told state media that talks with the United States are progressing and will move into expert-level technical negotiations on Wednesday in Oman.

Talks between Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff about Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief began last Saturday in Oman. 

Araghchi said that they will meet again next Saturday in Oman and evaluate the results of the “experts' work.”

In an interview with the semi-official Tasnim News Agency hours after Saturday’s meeting, Araghchi said their talks focus on strengthening trust-building measures regarding Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.

“The Americans have not raised any issues unrelated to the nuclear topic so far,” he added.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X on Saturday that both the Iranian and American delegates had a “highly constructive approach to the talks today.”

US President Donald Trump is hoping to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran to replace the one that he withdrew from in 2018. Under that agreement, Tehran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment program in exchange for sanctions relief. After the US exited the agreement and imposed sweeping sanctions, Tehran gradually rolled back on its nuclear commitments.

Trump has said Tehran is “too close” to developing a nuclear weapon and threatened military action should it not agree to a new deal.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.