Araghchi holds talks with counterparts as more countries express support for indirect Iran-US talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed the latest developments surrounding indirect talks with the United States in separate phone calls with his Swiss and Pakistani counterparts.

In his conversation with Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Sunday, Araghchi hailed Bern’s valuable role during negotiations in the 2010s that led to the Iran nuclear deal.

The Swiss foreign minister, for his part, welcomed the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington and reiterated his country’s readiness to extend any form of assistance in support of the negotiations.

Araghchi and Cassis also discussed mutual relations and global issues.

Progressive talks: Iran, US reach ‘better’ understanding on certain principles

The Iranian foreign minister says Iran and the US reach a better understanding on certain principles and goals.

The Iranian foreign minister and Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy for West Asia affairs, led two rounds of indirect talks about Iran’s nuclear program and the termination of US sanctions in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Italian capital, Rome, on April 12 and 19, respectively.

Speaking at the end of the second round of talks on Saturday, Araghchi said Tehran and Washington had reached a “better understanding” on certain principles and goals.

Iran and the US agreed to open expert-level technical discussions in Oman on April 23. A third round of high-level indirect negotiations between Araghchi and Witkoff would kick off in Oman on April 26 to evaluate the results of the expert meetings and see how close they will be to an agreement.

Araghchi also informed Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar about the talks.

The top Iranian and Pakistani diplomats discussed mutual relations and the developments in Afghanistan as well as regional and international issues.

They stressed the importance of holding more high-level consultations between the two neighboring Muslim countries to explore avenues for the expansion of ties.

Araghchi held talks with his counterparts as more countries have thrown their weight behind indirect Iran-US talks.

On Saturday, Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, an advisor to Qatar’s prime minister, hailed Oman’s constructive role in bringing Iran and the US closer together.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Ansari said that Qatar welcomes the Omani Foreign Ministry’s statement regarding the agreement reached between Tehran and Washington during their meeting in Rome to “move to the next phase of talks aimed at reaching a fair, lasting, and binding agreement.”

Ansari, who is also the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed his country’s hope that the talks will culminate in a comprehensive agreement that serves the interests of both parties, enhances security, stability, and peace in the region, and opens new horizons for regional cooperation and dialogue.

He affirmed Doha’s full support for the diplomacy and dialogue as a means to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.

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