Trump says nuclear talks with Iran 'going pretty good'

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday night that the talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program are progressing well.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “I think they’re going OK. Nothing matters until you get it done. So, I don’t like talking about it. But it’s going OK. The Iran situation is going pretty good, I think.” The White House announced last night that the talks in Oman were very positive and constructive.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Trump had instructed him to work towards resolving the disputes between the countries through dialogue and diplomacy, if that proves possible. Both delegations agreed to meet again this coming Saturday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the talks as "constructive and based on mutual respect." It was also reported that Araghchi and Witkoff had a brief direct conversation upon exiting the talks venue in Muscat, Oman.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said last night on Iranian television that he does not expect the current talks to be lengthy. "Our goal is to ensure Iran's national interests. We are giving a real and sincere opportunity for diplomacy," he added.

"Positive and constructive talks"

An Omani source told Reuters today that "the Iran-U.S. talks are intended to reduce tensions in the region, discuss prisoner exchanges, and reach limited agreements to ease sanctions – in exchange for control over Iran’s nuclear program."

Meanwhile, Russia is encouraged by the outcome of the talks between Washington and Tehran. Russia’s ambassador to international institutions in Geneva, Mikhail Ulyanov, noted in a Telegram post that both the Iranians and the Americans described the talks as positive and constructive.