US in hurry for nuclear deal, Iran says after high-stakes talks

The United States wants a nuclear agreement “as soon as possible,” Iran says after rare talks on Saturday, as US President Donald Trump threatens military action if they fail to reach a deal.

The long-term adversaries, who have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump pulled out of an earlier agreement during his first term in 2018.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a seasoned diplomat and key architect of the 2015 deal, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, led the delegations in the highest-level Iran-US nuclear talks since the previous accord’s collapse.

Araghchi, who briefly spoke face-to-face with Witkoff, a real estate magnate, during the otherwise indirect meeting in Oman, says the talks will resume next Saturday.

“The American side also said that a positive agreement was one that can be reached as soon as possible but that will not be easy and will require a willingness on both sides,” Araghchi tells Iranian state television.

“I think we came very close to a basis for negotiation… Neither we nor the other party want fruitless negotiations, discussions for discussions’ sake, time wasting or talks that drag on forever,” he adds.