Iran negotiating team pictured huddling in Muscat

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."

Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed that indirect talks between Tehran and Washington wrapped up in Muscat, and the two sides agreed to continue the talks next week.

US President Donald Trump said the only goal of US talks with Iran is to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, according to CBS journalist Jennifer Jacobs.

“Only that,” Jacobs quoted Trump as saying.

Earlier Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson rejected a Reuters report which cited an Omani source as saying the talks aimed to reduce regional tensions and facilitate prisoner swaps.