Trump confirms ‘more’ talks with Iran as Tehran insists on continuing nuclear enrichment | World News

According to CNN, although US President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran would not agree to completely stop enriching uranium, he confirmed that Washington and Tehran would hold further talks after what he described as “very good” first talks in Oman.

The talks, held Friday in the Gulf Arab state of Oman, were the first round of talks between the two sides since the United States and Israel attacked Iran last summer. Delegations from both countries participated in the indirect talks mediated by Oman.

“Iran seems very interested in making a deal. We need to see what that deal is,” Trump told reporters on Friday. he said. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new round of talks would be held “early next week,” although he later said no date had yet been set.

According to CNN, both sides agreed in principle to continue talks after consulting with their respective capitals.

The talks took place amid rising tensions, including a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and Trump’s repeated warnings that Washington could strike Iran if it refuses to sign a nuclear deal or uses lethal force against protesters.

Before the talks, Araghchi said Iran entered diplomacy “with open eyes and a fixed memory of the past year”, while after the meeting he described the discussions as “a good start”.

But harsh rhetoric continued on both sides. Trump said earlier this week that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “should be very concerned” while Araghchi warned that Iran would target US bases in the region if Washington carried out threats against the Islamic Republic.

Although Trump described the talks as productive, he said on Friday that a “large fleet” was heading towards Iran and would arrive soon, CNN reported.

Araghchi and US ambassador Steve Witkoff took part in the talks, as did Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Although the negotiations were officially indirect, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that he was in direct contact with the US delegation and the two sides shook hands. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi mediated.

Iranian media said the talks should follow a similar format to previous rounds of talks held before the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, during which Omani mediators shuttled between the two sides. These talks collapsed after Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, followed by the US attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to CNN, the Israeli government said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in Washington next week to discuss Iran negotiations. Netanyahu insisted that any deal must include curbs on Iran’s ballistic missile program and an end to its support for regional proxy groups.

But Iran said the talks were strictly limited to its nuclear program. Araghchi told Al Jazeera there had been no discussions about ballistic missiles or regional proxies.

Araghchi said, “We are ready to reach an agreement that assures them that the enrichment in Iran will be peaceful,” while emphasizing that Tehran will not accept a complete cessation of enrichment.

Iran has offered to accept monitoring and checks to ensure its nuclear program is not weaponized in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. Washington and its allies have rejected Iran’s insistence on continuing enrichment, seeing it as a potential way to develop nuclear weapons.

Following the talks, the USA announced new sanctions on Iranian oil and 14 ships carrying it, signaling that economic pressure continues.

“Instead of investing in the well-being of its own people and crumbling infrastructure, the Iranian regime continues to fund destabilizing activities around the world,” Deputy State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, according to CNN.

The risks remain high as the United States continues to move its military assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, closer to the region. Trump had previously said a “armada” was moving toward Iran “just in case.”

Regional countries are pressing to reduce tensions out of fear that a new conflict would destabilize the Middle East and disrupt global energy markets. Iran has warned that any attack by the United States or Israel would be met with a much stronger response than previous conflicts, including possible attacks on US bases and disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil and gas supplies, CNN reported.