Trump: US-Iran talks “going OK,” more talks set for next week

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that nuclear negotiations with Iran are “going OK,” suggesting cautious optimism following a new round of diplomacy in the Gulf.

“I think they’re going OK. Nothing matters until you get it done. So, I don’t like talking about it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during a return flight from a campaign rally.

The president's remarks came just hours after U.S. presidential envoy Steven Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat.

The White House characterized the talks as “very positive and constructive,” underscoring what officials described as a growing willingness on both sides to explore diplomatic solutions.

According to a White House statement, Witkoff conveyed to Araghchi that he was acting on direct instructions from President Trump “to resolve our two nations’ differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible.”

“These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome,” the statement added.

Both parties agreed to reconvene next Saturday, April 19, for further discussions, marking a rare moment of tentative engagement amid long-standing tensions.

The meeting in Oman is the latest in a series of quiet diplomatic efforts to defuse hostilities, following months of escalating rhetoric and regional friction.

For the record, Araghchi previously served as Iran’s deputy foreign minister and was a key negotiator in the 2015 nuclear deal, which the U.S. exited in 2018 under Trump’s administration. The current outreach signals what may be a shift in tone ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

The United States and Iran have commenced a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman, marking the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations in years. The talks, facilitated by Omani intermediaries, aim to address escalating concerns over Iran's advancing nuclear program and to explore potential avenues for easing tensions.​

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led their respective delegations in the discussions. While the meetings were conducted indirectly, with messages relayed through Omani officials, both sides described the initial talks as "very positive and constructive," according to the White House. 

The primary focus of the negotiations centers on Iran's nuclear activities. The U.S. has emphasized the necessity for Iran to halt any potential development of nuclear weapons, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. In exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities, Iran is seeking relief from economic sanctions, including the unfreezing of assets and the resumption of oil sales. 

Despite the constructive tone, significant challenges remain. Key issues include the disposal of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, reinstating inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and addressing Iran's insistence on maintaining its civil nuclear program. Moreover, Iran has expressed reluctance to engage in direct talks under ongoing U.S. sanctions .​

By Khagan Isayev