Araqchi and Omani foreign minister meet in Oman

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who's on a visit to Muscat for talks with US, held a key meeting with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on Saturday, Report informs via Mehr News Agency.

Heading a delegation, the Iranian top diplomat has traveled to Oman to participate in indirect talks with the United States on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.

Upon his arrival in the neighboring country, Araghchi met Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

During this meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister hailed the firm and long-standing relations between Tehran and Muscat in all fields and appreciated Oman's responsible approach to regional issues and developments.

He considered hosting the indirect Iran-US talks in Muscat a sign of this approach and thanked the Omani Foreign Minister for his attention to this issue.

The Omani foreign minister also described the Oman-Iran bilateral relationship as a privileged one and thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for choosing Muscat to hold these important talks.

During the meeting, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi briefed the Iranian top diplomat on the anticipated arrangements and preparations for today's indirect talks.

The Iranian Foreign Minister also provided the Islamic Republic of Iran's axes and positions to the Foreign Minister of Oman for transfer to the American side.

The United States and Iran begin high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Saturday, Report informs via AFP.

They will be the highest-level discussions between the foes since an international agreement on Iran's nuclear programme crumbled after Trump pulled out in 2018 during his first term in office.

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to lead the discussions behind closed doors in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which has long played a mediating role between Iran and Western countries.

Iranian state TV said that after his delegation arrived in Muscat on Saturday morning, Araghchi met with Omani officials.

Hours before the talks were due to begin, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: "I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can't have a nuclear weapon."

Trump had made a surprise announcement last Monday that the talks would take place.