Should Iran and the United States reach a deal, it must legally be ratified by the Iranian Parliament, said the deputy chairman of the parliamentary foreign policy committee Mahmoud Nabavian.
The next round of Iran-US talks slated for April 19 will not be held in Oman, Iran's state TV reported citing Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi without elaborating.
Before leaving Muscat, the top Iranian diplomat told reporters that Oman would continue to serve as the mediator in the next round.
“We had a very positive and constructive conversation" with Iran, NBC News reported citing chief US negotiator Steve Witkoff.
The US envoy, who is returning to the United States today from Oman, said the talks with Iran will continue on April 19.
US President Donald Trump is expected to make remarks in the coming hours aimed at influencing public opinion and the course of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday, citing a regional source.
Trump’s comments would be “emotional and unrealistic”, the report cited the source as saying, and would hold no value beyond shaping public perception.
The report added that Trump's remarks may not be coordinated with the US delegation currently involved in the talks.
The next round of talks between Iran and the United States will be held next Saturday, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters after the conclusion of the first round.
Araghchi said Oman will continue to host the talks next week, although the venue is likely to change.
The two sides will discuss the general framework of a potential agreement next week, Araghchi said, adding that a timeframe for a potential deal will be discussed in the next round of negotiations.
He described the talks concluded today in Oman as constructive, held in a calm and respectful environment.
Araghchi thanked the Omani mediator for making four trips between the Iranian and US delegations during the indirect talks, which he said lasted about two and a half hours.
He also said that no disrespectful language was used throughout the discussions.
Asked about his brief meeting with top US negotiator Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the talks, Araghchi said, “Nothing extraordinary was exchanged with the US delegation."
"We simply greeted each other and spoke briefly after our delegations happened to cross paths while leaving the talks,” he added.
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."
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.
Iran–US talks in Oman have concluded, according to the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Tasnim News agency.
The Associated Press reported that a convoy believed to be carrying US envoy Steve Witkoff has driven away from a compound where talks are taking place.
There was no immediate official confirmation from either the Iranian or the American sides.
Indirect talks between Iran and the United States are proceeding positively, the Tasnim news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported on Saturday citing a member of Iran’s negotiating team.
The source added that the discussions are unlikely to continue into Sunday.
Direct talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff could take place later in the day or on Sunday if initial engagements on Saturday are positive, Axios reported, citing an informed source.
President Donald Trump is prepared to make compromises to get a deal with Iran, the report added citing a US official.
Iran said Saturday that the current round of indirect talks with the United States in Oman will not be lengthy, emphasizing its commitment to a focused diplomatic process on nuclear and sanctions issues.
“This is a starting point, and at this stage, both sides are presenting their foundational positions through the Omani mediator,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Iranian media. “So, we do not expect this round of talks to be long.”
Baghaei also pushed back against recent reporting, particularly from Reuters, which cited an Omani source saying the talks aimed to reduce regional tensions and facilitate prisoner swaps.
“These claims are completely baseless,” Baghaei said. “Reuters has a long history of fabricating and publishing misleading reports. The references to Omani officials are inaccurate. Oman has always acted professionally in its mediation efforts.”
“Our objective is clear: we have only one goal, and that is to secure Iran’s national interests,” he added. “We are giving diplomacy a real and sincere opportunity to move forward.”
A member of Iranian parliament said that the United States must negotiate with the Islamic Republic, adding that he is optimistic about nuclear talks on Saturday.
"The US has a need to negotiate with the Islamic Republic because, in reality, nuclear knowledge cannot be bombed," said Bahnam Rezvani, a member of the Iranian parliament's Industry and Mining Committee.
"Our nuclear issue is not military, and the US knows this very well. That is why I am optimistic about the negotiations."
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said any future deal with Iran must ensure the complete elimination of its nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and support for its allied groups in the region.
"Any deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran must not only verifiably eliminate every element of its nuclear program, but must also crush its ballistic missile capability and its support of terror proxies around the world," Pompeo wrote on X.
He criticized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, saying it failed to address these critical security concerns. "No reason to be weaker than the Obama-Kerry capitulation to the cheating terrorist Supreme Leader," Pompeo added.
Iran favors negotiations that are “precise and calm,” its government spokesperson said, emphasizing Tehran’s preference for a structured, behind-the-scenes approach to diplomacy.
“The preferred negotiation for Iran is detailed and without fanfare. Every message should be written, clear, and free of theatrics,” Fatemeh Mohajerani wrote on X.
She added that Iran sets its own terms for talks — a sign, she said, of “diplomatic rationality” that also helps prevent opponents from spreading misinformation.
Talks between Iran and the United States aim to reduce regional tensions, facilitate prisoner exchanges, and explore limited agreements to ease sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, an Omani source told Reuters.
Indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff have begun, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on X.
“The indirect talks between Dr. Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Steve Witkoff, the US President’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, have started with the mediation of Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi,” Baghaei wrote.
“The talks are being held at a venue designated by the Omani host, with Iranian and American representatives placed in separate halls, and both sides are conveying their views and positions through Oman’s foreign minister,” he added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to head to the venue for talks with the US representative, Iranian state TV reported adding that the delegations will be in separate rooms, with Omani officials relaying messages between them.
Two senior Iranian political figures warned that internal disunity and vested domestic interests could undermine negotiations with the United States, as officials from both sides resume contacts in Oman.
Read more here.
A senior Iranian official on Saturday rejected a New York Times report that said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had shifted his position and approved nuclear talks with the United States, including the possibility of direct negotiations.
Mehdi Fazaeli, deputy chief of the office responsible for publishing Khamenei’s speeches and writings, wrote on X: “The claim by the American newspaper New York Times is merely a psychological operation and pure falsehood.”
The report, which cited two senior Iranian officials, Khamenei gave his approval during a meeting last month with the heads of Iran’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The paper reported that he permitted indirect talks with Washington, and said direct negotiations could take place if initial discussions showed progress.
Tehran’s stock market rallied Saturday morning ahead of a new round of negotiations with the United States in Oman.
“Capital markets experienced a marked uptick on April 11,” wrote EghtesadNews, which said the benchmark index rose by 15,000 points during the first half of trading.
The reform-leaning Donya-e-Eqtesad newspaper suggested that hopes for easing pressure on Iran’s currency were helping lift sentiment.
“Some projections indicate that if positive news comes out of the talks, the dollar might even fall below 900,000 rials,” the paper said.
“Such a scenario would shift momentum toward Tehran’s stock exchange.”
The last known direct negotiations between the two governments were under President Barack Obama.
From US-built reactors to secret enrichment sites and global standoffs, this comprehensive explainer breaks down the key moments that shaped Iran’s nuclear program and why it matters now more than ever.
Click here to read the full story.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's oft stated mantra of "no war and no negotiations" with the United States became untenable when US President Donald Trump gave a stark ultimatum that he reach a nuclear deal or face attack.
Read the full analysis here.
An adviser to Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday that the Islamic Republic has already achieved a political win by entering into indirect negotiations with the United States in Oman, regardless of whether the talks succeed or fail.
“Whether the talks fail or continue, the Islamic Republic has already won,” Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran, adviser to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, wrote on X.
Ranjbaran said Iran had both preserved its national dignity and demonstrated goodwill to the world through indirect engagement. “With indirect negotiations, it both preserves national pride and shows goodwill to the world — even when many countries cannot establish a rational connection with the current US president,” he added.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has welcomed the Iran–US talks in Oman, expressing hope that the negotiations will contribute to regional stability, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported Saturday.
The comments came during a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh on Friday in Antalya, Turkey, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
According to a statement from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry, “Fuad Hussein welcomed the talks scheduled to be held Saturday in the Sultanate of Oman between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, expressing his hope that these negotiations will yield positive results that contribute to achieving stability in the region.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran is aiming for a balanced outcome in its indirect talks with the United States.
“Our intention is to reach a fair and dignified agreement from an equal footing,” Araghchi told reporters in Muscat.
He added that progress depends on the approach of the US delegation, which is being led by President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“If the other side has entered with the same mindset, there is a chance for an initial understanding that could lead to a negotiation path,” Araghchi said.
The foreign minister also said the parties could agree on the structure of talks if there is enough political will. “If there is sufficient will, we can decide on a timeline for negotiations,” Araghchi noted.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday, before the start of talks with the United States, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
Araghchi, who is leading Iran’s delegation, praised Oman’s regional role and thanked it for hosting the talks. “Hosting the indirect Iran-US talks is a sign of [Oman’s] responsible approach to regional issues,” he said, according to the Iran's Foreign Ministry statement.
The ministry said Araghchi shared Tehran’s negotiating positions with al-Busaidi, who is expected to relay them to the American side. Al-Busaidi, for his part, described the Iran-Oman relationship as “excellent” and thanked Iran for choosing Muscat as the venue.
In the final moments before negotiations with the United States begin in Oman, Iranian hardline media is urging Tehran to stand firm against Donald Trump, push for the full lifting of sanctions, and highlight divisions within the White House.
Full details here.
Planned nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Oman face significant hurdles, with analysts citing deep mistrust and conflicting expectations, The Guardian reported on Saturday.
The talks, announced by Donald Trump, were described by Washington as direct, while Tehran insisted they would be indirect. Former US ambassador Dennis Jett said the disagreement “indicates that serious people are not running the show,” adding, “If you can’t even agree if it’s direct or indirect … it’s a lot harder obviously.”
Iran will be represented by veteran diplomat Abbas Araghchi. The US delegation is led by Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer with no prior experience on Iran, a mismatch that some fear could widen gaps in understanding.
However, some noted potential for limited progress. “He does seem like a more pragmatic person,” said analyst Sina Toossi of Witkoff. “I do not think the Iranians would have agreed to a high-level meeting if they didn’t believe it would be more than a one-sided negotiation.”
The "indirect talks" with the United States in Oman already represent a political gain for Iran and a setback for Washington, a senior Iranian hardliner and editor of the state-linked Kayhan newspaper said on Saturday.
“The benefit for the US from this indirect negotiation is the failure to impose its extortionist demands,” Hossein Shariatmadari, who represents Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Kayhan, wrote in a column. “What remains for Iran is yet another experience proving the United States is not trustworthy.”
He added, “From now, the result of Saturday’s indirect talks with the US can be scored one-nil in favor of the Islamic Republic.”
Kayhan, a fiercely conservative daily funded by the office of the Supreme Leader, often reflects the views of Iran’s most hardline political circles.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman on Saturday for talks with the United States, Iranian media reported.
He was accompanied by Kazem Gharibabadi, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaeim, all senior officials involved in Iran’s foreign policy and nuclear portfolio.
A visit by US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iran would be acceptable if Washington puts forward credible proposals during the ongoing talks in Oman, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Saturday.
“If the Americans bring something to the table in Oman that is worth hearing and discussing, there is no issue with Witkoff coming to Iran,” said Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.
Speaking to Iranian media, Zohrevand added that the Oman meeting is aimed at gauging the seriousness of the US side. “Oman is about testing the other side’s credibility, not about negotiating over a defined subject,” he said.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has given Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi "full authority" to lead nuclear talks with the United States, an Iranian official told Reuters.
“The duration of the talks, that will only be about the nuclear issue, will depend on the US side's seriousness and goodwill,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran has repeatedly ruled out discussing its defense capabilities, including its ballistic missile program, in the negotiations.
The meeting in Muscat marks the first direct diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington since a series of escalating regional tensions and the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
If US President Donald Trump’s shock announcement in the Oval Office on Wednesday that his administration was due to hold talks with Iran this weekend was a surprise, the choice of Oman as host was not.
For years, the Sultanate has supported diplomatic back-channels between the United States and Iran, and has built up a record as a credible intermediary trusted by both sides.
Explore the full story here.
A senior Iranian official said on Saturday that Iran’s delegation, led by the foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, is heading to Oman to participate in talks with the United States.
“We are departing for Muscat with a group of our most experienced colleagues, accompanying the respected Foreign Minister,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X. “We are determined to use all available capacities to safeguard Iran’s authority and national interests.”
A former Iranian foreign minister warned on Friday that any US-initiated military conflict with Iran would lead to severe and far-reaching consequences across the region and beyond.
“If America starts a war with Iran, not only will it not be able to control or end it, but it will face horrific, destabilizing consequences in the region and the entire world — extending as far as Ukraine and Taiwan,” Ali Akbar Salehi wrote on X.
Salehi, who also formerly headed Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, added: “The US must understand that negotiation is always better than war — especially today.”
The Trump administration's opening demand in talks with Iran in Oman on Saturday would be the dismantlement of its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday citing the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff at the same time acknowledged that compromises might be needed to reach a deal over the disputed nuclear program.
“I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff was quoted, addressing Iranian officials.
“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries.”
He added that “where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability."
