Iran, US wrap up third round of talks on nuclear deal in Oman

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday both Tehran and Washington showed their determination to make progress in the talks held in Muscat.

However, he said, "sometimes determination alone is not enough, and the disagreements may be so serious that reaching a result becomes impossible."

"Some of the disagreements are serious, and some have their own complexities, but we are hopeful that we can move forward quickly, and the progress so far has been good. I am satisfied with the process and pace of the negotiations," he added.

Araghchi said the two sides were engaged in a "much more serious" round of talks today.

"There are still disagreements, but it was evident that both sides are serious," he said. Araghchi said, "We are very cautiously optimistic."

The Iranian top diplomat ruled out talks on any non-nuclear issues. "We only discuss the nuclear issue and won't accept negotiations on any other topic."

Reuters had earlier quoted an Iranian official as saying that the Iran-US talks are not limited to Tehran’s disputed nuclear program but also include its missile program.

The source said the missile program has become the sticky point in Iran-US talks.

Oman's foreign minister announced that a fourth round of high-level talks will be held on May 3 between Iran and the United States.

US-Iran talks held on Saturday identified a shared aspiration to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.

"Core principles, objectives and technical concerns were all addressed," he said.

Iran's state TV said the third round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington has wrapped up in Oman.

"The technical and expert-level talks have entered the stage of examining the details and demands of both sides, and the expert delegations will return to their countries for consultations," Iran's state TV reported following the end of the third round of talks.

Iran’s foreign ministry on Saturday denied that its defense or missile capabilities have been discussed in indirect negotiations with the United States.

"The issue of Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities has not been and is not a topic of discussion in the talks," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei was quoted as saying by state media.

Baghaei rejected reports by "some Western media," including one by Reuters that quoted an Iranian official as saying Iran’s missile program remained a major obstacle to reaching an agreement with Washington.

Iran’s political and religious establishment is closing ranks to defend Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s backing of renewed negotiations with the United States, with clerics and hardliners urging the public to view flexibility as a continuation of revolutionary goals.

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Iran said on Saturday it remains "steadfast" in its demand for the lifting of sanctions and reiterated its readiness to build trust over the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, as a third round of indirect talks with the United States got underway in Muscat.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast in its principled position regarding the need to end unjust sanctions and its readiness to build trust,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

Talks began around 10 a.m. local time, with Iranian and US delegations meeting in separate rooms under Omani mediation, he said.

Baghaei added that a technical Iranian team of experts in sanctions, nuclear issues, and IAEA affairs is also present at the talks.

He stressed that “respect for Iran’s legitimate rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and providing assurances about the effective lifting of sanctions” were necessary to reach any understanding.

A powerful explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in Iran’s southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, coinciding with the start of the third round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Muscat, Oman, local media reported.

The blast shattered windows several kilometers away, according to Fars News Agency. Tasnim news agency reported that the explosion was caused by a fuel tank for "unknown reasons."

At least 115 people have been injured and transferred to hospitals, Iran’s national emergency services chief told local media.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency, citing an informed source, reported Saturday that the talks in Muscat are not related to missile issues.

This comes after Reuters reported on Friday that the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran are not limited to Tehran’s disputed nuclear program but also include its missile program, citing an Iranian official with knowledge of the talks.

According to Reuters, following a second round of talks in Rome on April 19, Iranian negotiators were "persuaded that the US had accepted Tehran's position that it would not entirely end its enrichment program or surrender all the uranium it has enriched already".

However, the official said Iran’s missile program remained a big sticking point. "The only remaining point of disagreement in the general discussions and mutual understanding is the missile issue," Reuters quoted the official as saying.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), defended Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent remarks supporting indirect negotiations with the United States.

"The essence of the Leader’s message is that everyone must fulfill their duty," Fars wrote on Saturday, warning against "simplistic and distorted" interpretations of Khamenei’s approach.

"We must not accuse the Islamic system of deviating from its ideals just because we do not understand why the political road has twisted," it added.

Khamenei had in February called talks with Washington "unwise, undignified, and dishonorable." Earlier this month, he said he was satisfied with the progress of negotiations mediated by Oman, telling Iranian media: "The first steps have been taken well, and the negotiations may bear fruit."

The third round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States has begun in Muscat, Iranian state media reported.