Third round of indirect Iran-US talks end

“The Iran-US indirect talks continue in a serious atmosphere, with the parties exchanging their positions and views on both areas of effective sanctions relief and confidence-building regarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program/protecting Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy, through the Omani side,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X as the talks were underway.

“The third round of indirect Iran-US talks, which began at around 10 a.m., is being held in separate rooms just like the previous two rounds, with the facilitating role of the Omani host and with the participation of the heads of the Iranian and US delegations,” Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier on Saturday while speaking to journalists in Muscat on Saturday.

Baghaei also said that the Iranian technical-expert delegation, which is headed by the political and legal-international deputies of the foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, respectively, is present at the site of the negotiations.

He added that the Iranian technical team is comprised of experts in the field of sanctions, including economic-banking experts, and also experts who have expertise in the nuclear field and interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast in its principled positions on the need to end oppressive sanctions and prepare for confidence-building about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” added the spokesman, according to the Telegram channel of the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson.

“Experience shows that reaching an understanding (deal) requires respect for Iran’s legitimate rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and assurances of an effective end to the sanctions,” Baghaei concluded.

Spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry rejected Saturday the claims by Western media that Iran’s missiles were up for discussion in the ongoing talks in Oman, saying that the talks are only focusing on the nuclear issue.

According to local Iranian media, Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that Iranian missiles are not up for discussion in the ongoing talks with the United States in Oman, nor will they be in the future.

An informed source told Mehr News Agency that the talks will solely focus on lifting sanctions and the nuclear issue, and there will be no discussions on other issues, including missile capabilities.

The third round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington kicked off in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Saturday at noon.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who has traveled to Muscat for the third round of indirect talks with the United States, met twice with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi ahead of the negotiations.

The meetings were focused on finalizing the logistical and procedural arrangements for the upcoming round of talks between Tehran and Washington.

The third round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States will begin around noon on Saturday.

The Iranian delegation arrived in Muscat on Friday evening, and the American delegation arrived in the Arab state on Saturday morning.

Sanctions lifting experts are also present during this round of negotiations.