Negotiations expected to centre on uranium enrichment begin in Oman as Trump expresses cautious optimism.Iran and the United States have opened a third round of talks in Oman aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear activities, with discussions expected to centre on uranium enrichment.
Iranian state television confirmed the negotiations were under way in Muscat on Saturday, though neither Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi nor US envoy Steve Witkoff disclosed any details on the talks they will lead.
The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic republic for decades.
Iran, for its part, has signalled it is eager to get sanctions relief as its economy continues to suffer.
US President Donald Trump was confident of clinching a new agreement that would block Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb.
Speaking on board Air Force One, en route to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, Trump expressed cautious optimism.
“The Iran situation is coming out very well,” he said. “We have had a lot of talks with them and I think we are going to have a deal. I would much rather have a deal than the other alternative. That would be good for humanity.” Advertisement
But Trump repeated threats stressing that military options remained on the table if diplomacy failed, saying: “There are some people that want to make a different kind of a deal – a much nastier deal – and I don’t want that to happen to Iran if we can avoid it.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson told state TV that the country’s defence a …