World
US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff (left) and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (right). Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Differences remain between Iran and the United States on the “big issues,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday after the third round of nuclear negotiations.
“Overall, I can say that the discussion atmosphere was a very serious and working atmosphere. We distanced ourselves somewhat from the big debates. This does not mean that all our disagreements have been resolved. There are differences both on the big issues and in the details,” Araghchi told the state broadcaster.
Each side will discuss in their respective capitals how to reduce the differences ahead of the next meeting, he added.
Araghchi said both sides showed seriousness and determination during the negotiations, creating an atmosphere of hope for progress, adding that “of course, this hope of ours is still extremely cautious.”
Indirect talks between Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff about Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief began on April 12 in Oman, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.
Last week, Araghchi said that progress was achieved and they “reached a better understanding on several principles and objectives.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the talks were “doing very well.”
“We could have a very, very good decision and a lot of lives will be saved,” he added.
The talks will continue next week, according to the mediator.
“Talks will continue next week with a further high level meeting provisionally scheduled for May 3rd,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.
The US and Iran “identified a shared aspiration to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments” during the talks, Albusaidi added.
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.
“Overall, I can say that the discussion atmosphere was a very serious and working atmosphere. We distanced ourselves somewhat from the big debates. This does not mean that all our disagreements have been resolved. There are differences both on the big issues and in the details,” Araghchi told the state broadcaster.
Each side will discuss in their respective capitals how to reduce the differences ahead of the next meeting, he added.
Araghchi said both sides showed seriousness and determination during the negotiations, creating an atmosphere of hope for progress, adding that “of course, this hope of ours is still extremely cautious.”
Indirect talks between Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff about Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief began on April 12 in Oman, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.
Last week, Araghchi said that progress was achieved and they “reached a better understanding on several principles and objectives.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the talks were “doing very well.”
“We could have a very, very good decision and a lot of lives will be saved,” he added.
The talks will continue next week, according to the mediator.
“Talks will continue next week with a further high level meeting provisionally scheduled for May 3rd,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.
The US and Iran “identified a shared aspiration to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments” during the talks, Albusaidi added.
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.
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