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Iran and the United States have agreed to hold another round of indirect nuclear talks “soon,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, describing the latest negotiations in Oman as a “good start” while stressing that trust-building will take time.
Speaking in interviews with Al Jazeera and Iranian state media following Friday’s talks in Muscat, Araghchi said both sides had exchanged views and agreed to continue negotiations, though no date has yet been set for the next meeting.
The talks, held through Omani mediation, marked the first nuclear discussions between Tehran and Washington since negotiations collapsed last year following Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran and a subsequent 12-day war.
Araghchi reiterated that uranium enrichment remains Iran’s “inalienable right” and said it must continue.
“Enrichment is our inalienable right and must continue. Even with bombing, they could not destroy our capabilities,” he said.
He added that Iran is ready to reach an agreement that provides reassurance regarding enrichment, stressing that Iran’s nuclear issue can only be resolved through negotiations.
Iran has repeatedly rejected U.S. demands to halt enrichment entirely, maintaining that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Tehran has also insisted that enriched uranium will not be removed from the country.
Araghchi said the discussions focused solely on the nuclear file and made clear that Iran’s missile program was not and would not be part of the negotiations.
“Our missile program is a defense issue and is never negotiable,” he said.
The United States has sought to expand the scope of the talks to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the region, a position also backed by Israel. Tehran has repeatedly rejected broadening the agenda beyond nuclear issues.
Araghchi warned that Iran would respond forcefully if attacked by the United States, saying U.S. bases in the region would be targeted, not neighboring countries.
“If the U.S. attacks us, we cannot strike American soil, but we will target U.S. bases in the region,” he said. “We do not attack neighboring countries. Our target is U.S. bases.”
He said the talks were indirect but noted that there was an opportunity for a handshake with the U.S. delegation during the meeting.
Calling the Oman talks “a good start,” Araghchi said there is still a long way to go to build trust between the two sides.
He expressed hope that Washington would refrain from threats and pressure so the diplomatic process could continue, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the nuclear dispute.
U.S. President Donald Trump also described the talks as “very good” and said another round of negotiations could take place next week, even as Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s shipping sector and trade ties.
The talks took place amid a major U.S. military buildup in the region and ongoing tensions following Iran’s crackdown on protests that began late last year.
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