U.S. negotiators reported “very good” progress in a second round of nuclear talks with Iran in Rome and plan to meet their Iranian counterparts again next week.
According to a U.S. official, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in more than four hours of direct and indirect discussions, The Hill reported.
“We agreed to meet again next week and are grateful to our Omani partners for facilitating these talks and to our Italian partners for hosting us today,” a senior U.S. administration official said, per the outlet.
Following the meeting, Araghchi stated that progress had been made on the “principles and objectives” of a potential agreement, and that technical-level talks are set to begin in the “coming days.”
“We made clear how many in Iran believe that the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are ‘lessons learned.’ Personally, I tend to agree. The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details,” Araghchi said in a Saturday statement on the X platform.
“After that, we will be in a better position to judge,” Iran’s foreign minister noted further. “For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.”
The Iranian diplomat and Witkoff are scheduled to meet again next Saturday.
Saturday’s meeting signaled progress as President Trump continues to push for a new agreement with Iran amid Tehran’s accelerating nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and has suggested that if diplomacy fails, military action could be on the table.
Oman announced that the two sides are preparing to enter the next phase of negotiations, aiming to reach an agreement that ensures Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons while also addressing the lifting of sanctions.
Araghchi and Witkoff, with the mediation of Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, “have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.”
“It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally,” said a spokesman for Oman’s foreign ministry in a Saturday statement, per The Hill. “It is also agreed that the next round will take place in Muscat in the next few days.”
The second round of talks between the two sides began around 11:30 a.m. local time at the Omani ambassador’s residence, a U.S. official told The Hill on Saturday.
“I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death — and I’d like to see that, that’s my first option,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in an X post on Saturday that his country has “always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues, in full respect of the high interests of the Iranian nation.”
“We are aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences,” Baghaei noted further.
Before Saturday’s talks with Iran, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi in Rome, a diplomatic source told The Hill.
The discussions in Italy followed the first round of negotiations held last week in Oman, which both sides described as “constructive.” Witkoff also met face-to-face with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi toward the conclusion of the meeting, The Hill reported.