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White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met Rafael Grossi, the UN nuclear watchdog's director general in Rome on Saturday morning before the second round of nuclear talks with Iran, the Wall Street Journal and Axios reported citing sources.
Asked about the presence of Grossi in Rome, Iran's Foreign Minister told reporters, "Talks do not require IAEA Director General's presence now, but exchanging expert views including with Grossi can be helpful."
"His awareness of the process is positive; IAEA will have an important role later," the Iranian top diplomat added.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi said nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are gaining momentum, following the second round of Muscat-mediated negotiations in Rome on Saturday.
"I would like to thank Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Presidential Envoy Mr Steve Witkoff for their highly constructive approach to the talks today,” al-Busaidi wrote on X. “These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible.”
Iran and the United States "have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy,” a spokesman at Oman's foreign ministry said in statement posted on X.
“It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally,” the statement added.
According to the statement, the next round of talks will take place in Muscat in the coming days.
The latest round of talks with the United States in Rome was productive, and technical negotiations are set to resume in Oman later this week, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters on Saturday.
"“It was a good meeting; the negotiations are progressing,” Araghchi said adding that talks on Saturday lasted roughly four hours.
"We managed to reach a better understanding on a number of principles and goals," he added.
He added that technical talks at the expert level will be held in Oman starting Wednesday this week.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman also described the second round of talks as constructive.
“There were useful indirect talks today between Iran and the United States conducted by Oman Foreign Minister in a constructive atmosphere,” Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X.
"The two sides agreed to continue the indirect talks in few days at technical level to be followed by another round at their own level on coming Saturday," he added.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman described the second round of talks with the United States in Rome as constructive and indirect.
“There were useful indirect talks today between Iran and the United States conducted by Oman Foreign Minister in a constructive atmosphere,” Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X.
"The two sides agreed to continue the indirect talks in few days at technical level to be followed by another round at their own level on coming Saturday," he added.
