Iran says 'indirect talks' have taken place with US over nuclear programme

Iran says "indirect talks" over the country's rapidly advancing nuclear programme have taken place with US officials, with more to come next week.

The discussions on Saturday took place in Muscat, Oman, with the host nation's officials mediating between representatives of Iran and the US, who were seated in separate rooms, according to Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry.

After the talks concluded, Oman and Iranian officials reported that Iran and the US had agreed to hold more negotiations next week.

Oman's foreign minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi tweeted after the meeting, thanking Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for joining the negotiations aimed at "global peace, security and stability".

"We will continue to work together and put further efforts to assist in arriving at this goal," he added.

Iranian state media claimed the US and Iranian officials "briefly spoke in the presence of the Omani foreign minister" at the end of the talks - a claim Mr Araghchi echoed in a statement on Telegram.

He added the talks took place in a "constructive atmosphere based on mutual respect" and that they would continue next week.

American officials did not immediately acknowledge the reports from Iran.

Mr Araghchi said before the meeting on Saturday there was a "chance for initial understanding on further negotiations if the other party [US] enters the talks with an equal stance".

He told Iran's state TV: "Our intention is to reach a fair and honourable agreement - from an equal footing.

"And if the other side has also entered from the same position, God willing, there will be a chance for an initial agreement that can lead to a path of negotiations."

Reuters news agency said an Omani source told it the talks were focused on de-escalating regional tensions, prisoner exchanges and limited agreements to ease sanctions in exchange for controlling Iran's nuclear programme.

President Donald Trump has insisted Tehran cannot get nuclear weapons.

He said on Monday that the talks would be direct, but Tehran officials insisted it would be conducted through an intermediary.

Mr Trump also warned Iran would be in "great danger" if negotiations fail.

"Hopefully those talks will be successful, it would be in Iran's best interests if they are successful," he said. "We hope that's going to happen."

He added Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren't successful, I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran".

The comments came after Mr Trump's previous warnings of possible military action against Iran if there is no deal over its nuclear programme.

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Saturday's meeting marked the first between the countries since Mr Trump's second term in the White House began.

During his first term, he withdrew the US from a deal between Iran and world powers designed to curb Iran's nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief.

He also reimposed US sanctions.

Iran has since far surpassed that deal's limits on uranium enrichment.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is wholly for civilian energy purposes but Western powers accuse it of having a clandestine agenda.

Mr Witkoff came from talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday, as the US tries to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.