Third round of 'nuclear' talks between Iran and the US held

Nuclear talks between Iran and the US are ongoing.

The third round of indirect negotiations, which began at 10:00 local time in Muscat, the capital of Oman, has concluded.

Iranian state television announced that the technical-level discussions between the delegations of the two countries reached a more detailed stage regarding demands and expectations, and that both delegations would return to their capitals for consultations.

EXPERT NAMES IN THE DELEGATION

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated in a briefing to the Iranian press during the talks that the Iranian delegation included experts in the fields of nuclear energy and economics.

Emphasizing that Iran maintains a determined stance on ending the "cruel" sanctions imposed upon it and proving that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Baghaei said, "Iran's legitimate rights must be respected in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and guarantees must be provided regarding the lifting of sanctions."

"TALKS CONTINUE IN A SERIOUS ATMOSPHERE"

In a separate statement on his social media account, Baghaei noted that the indirect negotiations between Iran and the US are continuing in a serious atmosphere, stating that the parties have conveyed their positions and views to each other through Oman regarding the protection of Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy, the effective lifting of sanctions, and building trust concerning the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE PARTIES

The negotiations between the US and Iran are seen as processes aimed first at building mutual trust and subsequently creating a framework for an agreement on Iran's nuclear program. The US wants Iran to stop the production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is used in the construction of an atomic bomb. Iran, which maintains that its nuclear program has always been peaceful, states that it is ready to "restrict" its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, while also demanding guarantees that the US will not backtrack.

It is stated that Iran will not agree to dismantle its uranium enrichment centrifuges, stop uranium enrichment entirely, or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below the levels agreed upon in the 2015 deal.