US, Iran to begin third round of nuclear talks after technical consultations

The third round of high-level indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran is set to begin following a series of technical consultations, a diplomatic source in Muscat confirmed to Russian media.

During these consultations, delegates from both countries will discuss the details of a potential agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

Oman will once again serve as the mediator in this process, as it has for the previous rounds.

The upcoming round is seen as part of the ongoing effort to resolve the crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities.

The third round, which will be held in Oman, could extend beyond the initially planned single day. This is due to the consultations now moving to a technical and expert level, where the focus will be on more detailed aspects of the agreement. While the meeting was originally scheduled for April 23, it was postponed at the request of the US administration due to “logistical difficulties,” according to the source.

The Iranian delegation for the political negotiations will be headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. On the US side, the delegation will be led by Stephen Witkoff, the special envoy for Iran. Michael Anton, Director of Political Planning at the US State Department, will lead the US expert group during the technical consultations, while Iran’s technical delegation will be represented by Deputy Foreign Ministers Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi.

This third round follows two previous rounds of indirect talks. The first was held on April 12 in Muscat, and the second took place in Rome a week ago. Iran has stated that both rounds were constructive. Following the second round, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood al-Busaidi said that the negotiation process is gaining momentum, and that even the “unlikely” is becoming possible.

The aim of these ongoing talks is to find a resolution to the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program, with both sides aiming to reach a comprehensive agreement.

 By Tamilla Hasanova