The latest round of high-stakes nuclear talks between Iran and the United States has concluded, with Tehran calling them difficult but both sides agreeing to continue negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on X that the talks had concluded, saying they were “difficult but useful to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the differences.”
A senior Trump administration official provided a more positive assessment, telling CNN that the discussions “were again both direct and indirect” and lasted more than three hours, describing them as encouraging.
“Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements,” the official said, adding that the US side is “encouraged by today’s outcome” and looks forward to their next meeting, “which will happen in the near future.”
No date has been set for the next round, though Baqaei stated that it would be announced by mediator Oman.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi stated that the fifth round of talks would take place after both sides consulted with their leaders. He stated that Sunday’s discussions contained “useful and original ideas” that reflected a common desire to reach a “honorable” agreement.
Red lines drawn
The talks on Sunday aimed to address Iran’s nuclear program and lift sanctions.
The fact that they are taking place at all is a breakthrough; the talks are at their highest level in years, but there are few signs of firm progress.
Both countries have expressed a desire to resolve their differences through diplomacy. A central issue remains Iran’s demand to continue enriching uranium for its nuclear program, which it claims is peaceful, which the US considers a “red line.”
US President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit the Middle East next week, has threatened to launch military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites with Israel’s assistance if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with its interlocutors.
The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated before the talks began that the US side “holds contradictory positions, which is one of the issues in our negotiations.”
“We have been clear about our boundaries,” Araghchi said, according to Fars News Agency.
Iranian officials told CNN on Saturday that recent talks with the US were “not genuine” on the American side. The Iranian source also stated that allowing uranium enrichment on Iranian soil is Iran’s “definite red line” in the talks.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been leading the American side, warned that if the talks were not productive, “they won’t continue, and we’ll have to take a different path.”
Witkoff told Breitbart about the US’ expectations for the talks, including the country’s uranium enrichment program. “Iran will never have an enrichment program again. That is our red line. “No enrichment,” he stated.
Iran has stated that it will not give up its capability to enrich uranium. The country has long maintained that it does not want a nuclear weapon and that its program is for energy purposes.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned last month that Iran was “not far” from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“It is like a puzzle. Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde that they have the pieces and could eventually put them together.
