Iran, US nuclear talks in Oman were a good start, Iran's top diplomat says

MUSCAT/DUBAI: High-stakes nuclear talks between Iran and the United States held in Oman on Friday were a good beginning and will continue, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said.

“It was a good start to the negotiations. And there is an understanding on continuing the talks.

Coordination on how to proceed will be decided in the capitals,” Araqchi told Iranian state TV.

Officials from both sides will return home for consultations and “the wall of mistrust” should be overcome, he added.

While both sides have indicated readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Washington wanted to expand the talks to cover Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for armed groups around the region and “treatment of their own people”, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said they will not discuss Iran’s missiles — one of the biggest such arsenals in the region — and have said Tehran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium.

For Washington, carrying out enrichment inside Iran is a red line.

AFP adds

Negotiators from Iran and the United States will decide “on the way forward” for their talks after consultations back in their respective capitals, Iran’s top diplomat said Friday.

“The way forward will depend on our consultations with our capitals,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview following the first round of talks in Oman.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday described the atmosphere of talks with the United States as positive, with the two sides agreeing to proceed with negotiations.

“In a very positive atmosphere, our arguments were exchanged and the views of the other side were shared with us,” Araghchi told Iranian state TV, adding that the two sides had “agreed to continue negotiations, but we will decide on the modalities and timing at a later date