Washington, May 11 (EFE).—The United States hailed the latest round of nuclear talks with Iran as “encouraging” on Sunday, saying both sides agreed to continue discussions and work on key technical issues despite ongoing tensions over Tehran’s uranium enrichment program.
A senior official from the Donald Trump istration told reporters that the fourth round of negotiations in Oman lasted over three hours and included both direct and indirect dialogue.
“An agreement was reached to move forward with the talks and continue working on the technical elements,” the official said. “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will take place in the near future. We thank our Omani partners for their continued facilitation.”
The US delegation was led by Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, while Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
The two sides entered the meeting with entrenched public differences over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
While Tehran insists its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes, Washington has called for a complete dismantling of the program.
The nuclear dialogue, which began on Apr. 12, has seen four rounds so far, three in Oman and one in Rome.
Both sides have described the earlier meetings as constructive. The fourth round, initially scheduled for May 4 in Rome, was postponed after the US withdrew days prior, but it has now been held in Oman.
President Trump continues to threaten military action if no agreement is reached and has reinstated the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, reversing course from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Since the US pulled out of that accord in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions, Iran has increased uranium enrichment levels to 60 percent, just shy of the 90 percent required for weapons-grade material. EFE
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