Muscat (Europe Brief News): The United States and Iran’s top negotiators started a new round of indirect discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump showed hope that a new agreement could be made to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff have begun the third round of discussions in Muscat on Saturday, following their second round of talks in Oman and the initial round in Muscat, both of which were described by both parties as constructive.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that talks had begun. “A third round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America started in Muscat.” The news agency did not give any other details.
United State’s President Donald Trump said in an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, that “I believe we will reach an agreement with Iran,” but he reiterated his threat of military action against Iran if negotiation fails.
How did the second round go between Iran and the U.S?
In their second indirect meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi engaged in a four-hour negotiation in Rome with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, facilitated by an Omani official who conveyed messages between them.
After the discussions, Araqchi shared on state television that the meeting was beneficial and held in a positive atmosphere. He stated that, “We made strides on several principles and objectives, leading to a clearer understanding.”
“It was decided that discussions will persist and transition into the next phase, in which expert-level meetings are set to commence in coming days in Oman. This will provide experts with the chance to begin formulating a framework for an agreement,” he said.
The lead negotiators are scheduled to gather once more in Oman next Saturday to “evaluate the work done by the experts and determine how well it corresponds with the principles of a possible agreement,” he added.
The U.S Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff stated on social media, “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”
How did the first round go between Iran and the US?
The initial discussion took place at Muscat in Oman. The East Arabian Peninsula country of Oman hosted its first political discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on April 12, 2025. The two officials met in person after prior indirect negotiations and quickly concurred on proceeding to a second round.
US Middle East Envoy Witkoff later appeared on TV in which he indicated that an enrichment level of 3.67% for Iran might be a point of agreement between the nations. However, this is precisely the condition established by the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration, from which Trump withdrew the United States unilaterally.
Hours later, Witkoff released a statement emphasizing a critical point: “A deal with Iran will only be finalized if it is approved by Trump.”
What triggered the U.S and Iran to set into high talks?
The high level discussions take place against the United States President Donald Trump’s warning to strike Iran if an agreement regarding its nuclear program with the US is not achieved.
On Friday April 18, 2025, Trump expressed to the press, “My goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. They are not allowed to have a nuclear weapon. I wish for Iran to thrive, flourish, and be outstanding.”
The U.S president, who abandoned a nuclear agreement with Iran and six other nations in 2015 during his first term in 2018, reinstated severe sanctions against Tehran. Since resuming his position in the White House in January, he has restored his “maximum pressure” strategy towards Iran.
Iran calls its nuclear activities peaceful and shows readiness to discuss atomic activity boundaries in exchange for international sanctions removal. The United States disapproves of Iran attempting to maintain its uranium stockpile on Iranian soil and requires total destruction of the material or its relocation to either Russia or another country.
Why does Iran’s nuclear program raise alarms in the West?
The government of Iran has maintained a peaceful purpose narrative about its nuclear activities throughout numerous years. Nevertheless, its authorities are increasingly threatening to use nuclear weapons. Currently, Iran is enriching uranium to near-weapon-grade levels of 60%, making it the only country without a nuclear weapons programme doing so.
According to the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and hold a uranium reserve of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated that Iran’s stockpile now exceeds 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), with a portion enriched to 60% purity.
U.S. intelligence agencies believe that as Iran has not yet initiated a weapons program, it has “engaged in activities to create a better nuclear device, should it decide to proceed.”
An advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Larijani , stated in an interview that “as Iran possesses the capability to develop nuclear weapons, it is not actively pursuing this path and is cooperative with the inspections of International Atomic Energy Agency’s”.
However, he warned that “if the U.S. or Israel were to strike Iran regarding its nuclear program, the nation would have no alternative but to advance its nuclear weapon development.” He added, “But if you make a blunder over Iran’s nuclear matter, “If you make a mistake regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, you will force Iran to take that path, because it must defend itself.”
