US President Donald Trump has described recent talks between Washington and Tehran as “very good,” following an indirect round of discussions mediated by Oman in Muscat. Both sides have indicated that further negotiations are likely in the coming days, raising cautious hopes for diplomatic progress despite ongoing tensions.
The discussions marked the first engagement between the United States and Iran since US forces joined Israel’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year. The talks were held indirectly, with Omani officials acting as intermediaries, and no direct public meeting took place between American and Iranian delegations.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the dialogue had been constructive and confirmed that another round of talks could take place early next week. However, he warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to “very serious consequences,” underlining that the military option remains on the table.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led Tehran’s delegation, said the discussions focused solely on Iran’s nuclear programme. He described the atmosphere as positive and stated that both sides had agreed to continue negotiations. Araghchi also urged Washington to avoid threats and pressure if diplomacy is to succeed.
The United States has maintained that any future agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons — an allegation Tehran continues to deny, insisting its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. US officials have also raised concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for regional armed groups, issues Iran says were not part of the Muscat talks.
Shortly after the talks concluded, Washington announced new sanctions targeting shipping companies and vessels involved in Iranian oil exports. US officials did not clarify whether the sanctions were directly linked to the negotiations, but said they were part of a broader “maximum pressure” strategy aimed at limiting Iran’s revenue streams.
Regional and international reactions have been mixed. Allies such as Qatar expressed hope that the dialogue could lead to a comprehensive agreement that improves regional security, while European officials warned against Iran’s destabilising role in the Middle East.
Despite the diplomatic opening, tensions remain high, with increased US naval deployments in the region and repeated warnings from Iran that it would retaliate against any military action. The coming rounds of talks are expected to determine whether diplomacy can ease the standoff or whether confrontation will intensify.
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