May 11 (UPI) – A senior official told reporters on Sunday that the fourth round of the nuclear talks between the United States and Oman had encouraged the Trump administration.
White House envoy Steve Witkev met with Iranian foreign ministries Akas Aragici for three hours on Sunday in Muscat. The talks mediated Omani Foreign Minister Syed Badr Al -Busadi.
The official said: “The discussions were again directly and indirectly,” the official said.
The news comes a few days before President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East this week.
The two sides are said to work through the technical elements of a possible nuclear agreement.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the talks as “difficult but useful.” Both sides were guarded in their comments.
“We are encouraging the results of today and we look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future,” the US official said.
Al -Busidi said on X that the two sides discussed “useful and original ideas that reflect a common desire to reach an honorable agreement.”
There are some questions about the extent to which the current deal will be discussed, as Arakhachi said before the meeting that civil enrichment in uranium will not be subject to new rules.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Iran to import enriched uranium instead, but Iranian officials retreated and said that the country's investment in its construction was deep.
“The enrichment is one of the achievements of the Iranian nation and its honor,” Aragchchi said. “We have paid a high price for enrichment. The blood of nuclear scientists has been leaked for this achievement.”
He was referring to the Iranian scientists who were killed during the enrichment program.
