Initial meeting “positive,” says White House; Iranian economy teeters while enrichment nears weapons-grade.
Washington and Tehran have resumed indirect discussions aimed at reviving nuclear diplomacy.
Saturday’s renewed engagement, facilitated by the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat, was the first such exchange since Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency. Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed that U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly met in person—marking the first direct interaction between American and Iranian officials at this level since the Obama era.
The meeting commenced around 3:30 p.m. local time and continued for more than two hours at a secured site on the outskirts of Muscat, according to the Associated Press. Eyewitnesses later spotted a convoy believed to be transporting Witkoff returning toward the U.S. embassy compound in the city.
Both parties described the talks as “productive,” with a follow-up meeting already set for April 19 in Rome.
Washington remains wary that Iran’s nuclear program will cross critical thresholds if left unchecked. Trump has previously warned that the U.S. is prepared to carry out military strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure should negotiations fail. In response, Iranian leaders have increasingly threatened that they may openly pursue nuclear arms using their existing uranium reserves.
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