Tehran says talks next Saturday will discuss framework of possible deal

A former US official involved in crafting sanctions against Iran during the Obama administration cautioned against overstating the significance of the brief exchange between Iranian and American chief negotiators, Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, after indirect Iran-US talks in Oman.

“This has value, but let's not go overboard here," Richard Nephew, a former US negotiator during previous nuclear talks with Iran said in a post on X.

"Yes, it is a positive sign as is the continuation of talks. But, Iran could have dropped this at any time and they picked a good tactical moment.”

A photograph circulating on social media shows members of the Iranian negotiating team including foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and deputies Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi conversing after the conclusion of talks with the US in Oman.

Oman's foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi said talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat began in a friendly atmosphere aimed at reaching a fair and binding agreement.

"The engagement took place in a friendly atmosphere conducive to bridging viewpoints and ultimately achieving regional and global peace, security and stability," he said in a post on X.

"We will continue to work together and put further efforts to assist in arriving at this goal," he added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iranian and American chief negotiators, Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, had a brief meeting in the presence of the Omani foreign minister as they were leaving the compound where their indirect talks had been held.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says its chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi and his US counterpart Steve Witkoff "exchanged the positions of their respective governments on issues related to the nuclear program through the Omani Foreign Minister, in a constructive atmosphere based on mutual respect."