Buenos Aires, Feb 6 (NA) — Indirect talks between Iran and the United States, held in Muscat, Oman's capital, are "a good start," and both parties have agreed to continue negotiations in the future, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Friday, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. According to a Xinhua report accessed by the Argentine News Agency, stating that the talks took place in a "positive atmosphere," Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation, said both sides will first hold consultations in their respective capitals and then decide how and when the next round of talks will take place. Additionally, according to a report by Iran's official IRNA news agency, Araghchi noted that today's talks focused solely on nuclear issues and that Tehran did not discuss "any other topic" with Washington. The Iranian delegation indicated in the talks that refraining from threats and pressure is a prerequisite for any dialogue, Araghchi said, adding that Iran hopes this point "will definitely be fulfilled to pave the way for the continuation of talks." Meanwhile, Iran's state-run IRIB television, citing Araghchi, reported that Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held several meetings with the Iranian and U.S. delegations, which helped both sides exchange their views. "Such deep distrust" between Washington and Tehran, forged in the past, represented "a great challenge for the negotiations, and first of all we have to overcome the atmosphere of distrust and then be able to design the framework for a new dialogue capable of saving the interests of the Iranian people," Araghchi stated. Earlier, Iran's Mehr news agency reported that Iran rejected a "zero enrichment" demand made during the talks. The two sides focused on reducing Iran's existing uranium reserves, Mehr reported, adding that the atmosphere of the talks was "more serious" than in previous rounds between the two parties. The latest round of talks took place against a backdrop of growing regional tensions, particularly between Washington and Tehran, characterized by a recent increase in U.S. military presence in the Middle East and intensifying preparations by Iran.
