U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the latest U.S.-Iran negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program are progressing well, expressing optimism about the possibility of reaching a definitive agreement.
Speaking about the ongoing talks, Trump emphasized that reaching a diplomatic solution is preferable to military options, saying that achieving an agreement would be “better than using bombs as an alternative.”
The United States and Iran have thus far held three rounds of indirect negotiations, mediated by Oman, aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of stringent U.S. economic sanctions.
Iranian Delegation: Progress, but Red Lines Remain
Majid Ravanchi, a member of the Iranian negotiating delegation, revealed that during the third round of talks, efforts began to draft the text of a potential agreement.
He emphasized that Iran’s red lines remain firm, noting that zero uranium enrichment and restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program were not raised during the discussions.
“Our negotiating focus is on two main axes: establishing international confidence in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program and lifting the sanctions,” Ravanchi said.
Key Disagreements Remain
According to The Wall Street Journal, the most significant points of contention between Washington and Tehran during the latest talks in Muscat centered around Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.
The report indicated that the Trump administration is seeking to link Iran’s missile program to the nuclear deal—a move strongly rejected by Tehran.
Despite the differences, both sides reportedly agreed to continue negotiations in future rounds.
Israeli Pressure on Negotiations
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to any partial agreement with Iran. Speaking on Sunday, Netanyahu called for the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, similar to the model used in Libya’s 2003 agreement with Western powers, in which Tripoli abandoned its nuclear, chemical, biological, and missile programs.
“The only good deal is one that results in the removal of all infrastructure,” Netanyahu said, warning against any compromise that would leave Iran with nuclear capabilities.
