Second round of Iran-US nuclear talks to be hosted by Muscat, confirms Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the next round of talks with the United States will be held Saturday in Muscat.

Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei put to rest speculation about the potential venue for the upcoming round of “indirect talks” between Tehran and Washington.

He told state-run news agency, IRNA, late Monday that after consultations it was decided that the Omani capital, also the venue for the first round last Saturday, will again serve as the venue for the next phase of negotiations on Saturday.

There had been intense speculation, reported even in sections of the US media, that Rome might host the talks.

The indirect negotiations, mediated by Oman, follow a prolonged stalemate and come amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, particularly after Donald Trump’s reelection as US president.

Led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the Iranian side, and Steve Witcoff, US Special Representative for the Middle East, for the Americans, Tehran said the first round was held in “a constructive atmosphere based on mutual respect.”

Iran’s negotiating team includes Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, along with Baghaei.

The talks are primarily focused on Iran’s nuclear program, as the Trump administration continues to ramp up pressure on Tehran to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Trump recently threatened Iran with military strikes and secondary sanctions if it failed to reach a new deal with the US on its nuclear program -- one that will replace a deal reached in 2015.

While Iran has refused to engage in direct talks, it agreed to hold indirect negotiations mediated by Oman.

In the first round, Araghchi and Witcoff held a brief conversation following the two-and-a-half-hour indirect talks while sitting in different rooms.