Summary of developments: • The White House announced that the negotiations were very positive and a step forward towards a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. • The atmosphere of the talks was described as 'friendly,' and it was announced that negotiations would continue next week. • The negotiation session concluded after two and a half hours with a 'direct' conversation between Araghchi and Witkoff. • The Iranian rial strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Saturday. • The Iran-U.S. negotiations took place in Oman.
The American delegation's convoy at the venue of the Iran-U.S. negotiations.
Summary of developments: • The White House announced that the negotiations were very positive and a step forward towards a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. • The atmosphere of the talks was described as 'friendly,' and it was announced that negotiations would continue next week. • The negotiation session concluded after two and a half hours with a 'direct' conversation between Araghchi and Witkoff. • The Iranian rial strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Saturday. • The Iran-U.S. negotiations took place in Oman.
Latest posts: • Reza Pahlavi: The Islamic Republic will use nuclear negotiations to buy time. Prince Reza Pahlavi stated in an interview with the British newspaper Sunday Times that 'it is very unlikely that the regime will agree to any deal that Donald Trump is considering.' He added that 'this is different from buying a new skyscraper in lower Manhattan [in New York].' In this interview published on April 23, the last Crown Prince of Iran stated that 'the leadership of Iran, which is desperate and fractured, will use these nuclear negotiations to buy time for its survival.' Mr. Pahlavi emphasized that 'in the 46 years, the regime has never been as weak as it is today. We believe we are on the brink of our final liberation, and the convergence of favorable factors has created a window of opportunity.' He added that 'the choice is not just between a nuclear deal and military intervention... a better option is to support the Iranian people in achieving the democratic change they seek. What is needed is regime change so that warmongers are replaced by peacemakers.' He explained that 'what is vital is to support the protesters while maintaining pressure on the regime.' The Sunday Times notes in the text of this interview that Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasizes that he is not seeking to restore the Peacock Throne or hold a government position. He says, 'I am not a candidate for anything... I am not the destination, I am the road.' Reza Pahlavi also mentioned in another part of this interview that he acknowledges there were problems during his father's rule and stated, 'No one denies this. I do not deny it either. But was it worth the consequences?'
• Baqai: Negotiations will remain indirect. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday: 'Whether the next round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will be in Oman or elsewhere is under discussion, but what is important is that Oman will continue to play this mediating role.' Ismail Baqai stated in a television interview regarding the next round of Iran-U.S. negotiations that the negotiations will continue to be indirect and hosted by Oman... The framework of the negotiations will continue as it has been.' He emphasized: 'Wherever it is, Oman is responsible for arranging the arrangements related to the location of the delegations, how the delegations exchange messages with each other, this will be done by Oman, but it may not matter much where it is. What matters is that the format and shape of the negotiations will continue to be indirect with Oman’s mediation.'
• CNN: The next round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will likely be held in Europe. CNN reports that the next meeting between Iran and the U.S. is likely to take place next week in Europe. The network wrote about the location of the talks on Saturday between Steve Witkoff, the U.S. representative, and Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister. CNN reported that the negotiation on Saturday 'was held at the magnificent residence of Badr al-Busaidi, the Omani Foreign Minister, known as 'Bayt Hayl' near Muscat Airport. In this indirect meeting, five representatives from each of the Iranian and American sides and three Omani officials were present, who conveyed messages between the two sides in English.' CNN continued in a report on its website that 'reports indicate that the American delegation was located in the Western-style reception hall, while the Iranian delegation was situated in the Eastern-style section of the house. After the negotiations concluded, the two sides had only a brief conversation as they exited. According to informed sources, the Trump administration is eager to reach an agreement as quickly as possible, and the U.S. representative is seeking political decision-making without delving into time-consuming technical details.'
• The New York Times: The U.S. did not ask Iran to completely stop uranium enrichment. According to the New York Times, citing informed officials, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special representative who met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday in Oman, did not ask Iran to completely stop uranium enrichment. The officials stated that these discussions in Oman were 'extensive and aimed at maintaining dialogue.' According to this report, Witkoff, who led the U.S. delegation, did not demand a complete halt to uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic, and the main focus of the negotiations was 'to ensure that Iran does not divert existing materials towards nuclear weapon production.' The New York Times wrote that the first round of discussions progressed in a way that was expected for Iran and helped achieve key objectives to advance the negotiations to the next level; the focus remained on the nuclear program. Additionally, there was no mention in the negotiations of dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities or its regional policies related to groups such as the extremist group Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
• 'Iran may return to the uranium enrichment levels set in the 2015 agreement.' According to the Wall Street Journal, Tehran may be willing to return to the uranium enrichment levels specified in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015. This newspaper reported on Sunday, citing Iranian officials, that in exchange for this action, the Islamic Republic is seeking a reduction in U.S. sanctions, the restoration of access to frozen foreign assets, and a halt to pressure on Chinese buyers of Iranian oil. On Saturday, Oman hosted indirect talks between Iranian and American negotiators. The negotiations are scheduled to resume next Saturday, April 30.
• The price of the dollar in the Iranian market fell after the White House statement was released. Early Sunday, the dollar price, coinciding with reports of the positivity of negotiations between Iran and the U.S., entered the 80,000 tomans range. The value of the Iranian rial, which had previously fallen to 106,000 tomans against each dollar, was around 100,000 tomans a day before the Iran-U.S. negotiations in Oman. Following the conclusion of this meeting and especially after the release of the White House statement, the dollar price on Saturday entered the 94,000 tomans range. The price of gold in Iran, contrary to global markets, also saw a decrease, such that each Imam coin, which was previously traded at 100 million tomans, fell to about 90 million tomans on Saturday. On Sunday, gold entered the 6 million tomans range, and each gram of 18-karat gold was traded at 6 million and 860 thousand tomans. The total index of the Tehran Stock Exchange also rose by 15,000 units at the end of trading on Saturday, reaching two million and 845 thousand units.
• The White House: Today's negotiations were very positive and a step forward towards a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. The White House issued a statement announcing that the 'direct' dialogue between Steve Witkoff and the Iranian delegation was 'a step forward towards achieving a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. The two sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.' The White House statement noted that 'Witkoff, the special representative of the U.S. presidency, along with Anna Skrogiema, the U.S. ambassador to Oman, discussed with Dr. Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, today in Muscat. These negotiations were hosted by the Omani Foreign Minister. The discussions were very positive and constructive, and the United States deeply appreciates the support of the Sultanate of Oman in this initiative.' The White House statement also mentioned that 'Mr. Witkoff emphasized to Mr. Araghchi that he has been tasked by President Trump to resolve the differences between the two countries through dialogue and diplomacy, if possible.' The White House concluded the statement by emphasizing that 'the issues are very complex' and added: 'Today's direct dialogue by Witkoff was a step forward towards achieving a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties. The two sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.' Prior to the release of the White House statement, the Iranian Foreign Minister also announced the agreement between Iran and the U.S. to hold the second round of talks next Saturday, April 30, and stated that the topic of the next negotiation session would focus on discussing 'the general frameworks of the agreement.' Mr. Araghchi also mentioned that the U.S. representative in the negotiations aimed for the general framework of the agreement to be established 'in the shortest time possible.' The Iranian delegation present at the Muscat meeting.
• Senior Eurasia analyst: Iran is creating an environment that makes an agreement through negotiation seem possible. Gregory Brew, a historian and senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, says that positive energy has emerged from the Iran-U.S. negotiations in Oman, but there are still no clear signs that the U.S. is satisfied with the negotiation process. Mr. Brew, who specializes in Iran, U.S. foreign policy, and Middle Eastern geopolitics, told Radio Farda that the noise coming from Iran regarding Saturday's meeting and the reports of its positive atmosphere are not surprising, as 'Iran is benefiting from these negotiations and creating an environment that makes an agreement through negotiation seem possible.' This senior American analyst also told Radio Farda: 'It seems that the negotiations have been conducted mostly according to Iran's wishes in an indirect manner and lasted about two and a half hours. Apparently, before leaving the venue, there was also a brief and direct conversation between Witkoff and Araghchi, which allows the United States to say that the negotiations were direct. Thus, both sides have achieved their initial demands.' However, Gregory Brew emphasized: 'It is still not entirely clear what has been achieved beyond creating a basis for future discussions.' Mr. Brew also told Radio Farda that overall 'positive energy has emerged from these negotiations, but there is still nothing tangible or specific; there are still no clear signs that the U.S. is satisfied with the negotiation process. We will have to wait and see if further progress is made in the next round of negotiations and whether the negotiations move from indirect to direct.'
• Araghchi: The second round of talks will be held next Saturday. The Iranian Foreign Minister announced the agreement between Iran and the U.S. to hold the second round of talks next Saturday, April 30. Abbas Araghchi also described the negotiations with the U.S. as 'constructive, in a calm and very respectful environment' and added that 'four times, messages were exchanged between the Iranian and American sides through the Omani intermediary.' According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, the topic of the next round of Iran-U.S. negotiations will focus on discussing 'the general frameworks of the agreement,' and it will have 'a timeline.' Mr. Araghchi also stated that the U.S. representative in the negotiations aimed for the general framework of the agreement to be established 'in the shortest time possible.' Regarding his direct conversation with Mr. Witkoff at the end of the meeting, he said: 'We maintained diplomatic decorum.' U.S. government officials have not yet commented on the details of Saturday's meeting and its outcome, but Eric Brewer, a prominent nuclear and Iran-related expert, wrote on X: 'Be cautious in early and emotional assessments of the Iran-U.S. negotiations. Wait for the actual content.' Mr. Brewer is the deputy director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in the U.S. and was a senior official responsible for Iran-related matters and U.S. nuclear policy during Trump's first term.
• The Omani Foreign Minister: The Iran-U.S. negotiations were held in a friendly atmosphere. The Omani Foreign Minister, who was present at the Iran-U.S. negotiations in Muscat, stated after the conclusion of the meeting on Saturday that the discussions were 'held in a friendly atmosphere and suitable for bringing views closer and ultimately achieving peace, security, and regional and global stability.' Badr al-Busaidi expressed gratitude to Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff for their 'friendly and suitable participation' and wrote: 'We will continue our cooperation and...