Talks with US "a good start," both sides agree to continue negotiations: Iranian FM

The indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat, Oman, were "a good start," with both sides agreeing to continue negotiations in the future, Iran's Fars News Agency reported Friday, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Noting that the talks took place in "a positive atmosphere," Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation, said that both sides will first hold consultations in their respective capitals，and then decide how and when it will be regarding the next round of talks.

Araghchi said that the Friday talks focused solely on the nuclear issues, and that Tehran did not discuss "any other topics" with Washington, Fars reported.

The Iranian delegation had pointed out in the talks that refraining from threat and pressure is the prerequisite for any dialogue, Araghchi said, adding that Iran expects that this point "definitely be observed to prepare the ground for the talks' continuation."

The Iranian and U.S. delegations did not meet directly during the talks. Iran's state-run IRIB TV, quoting Araghchi as saying, reported that Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held several meetings with the Iranian and U.S. delegations, helping the two sides exchange their viewpoints.

In a post on social media platform X, Al Busaidi said the indirect talks between Iran and the United States were "very serious" and "useful."

Earlier in the day, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that Tehran had rejected a "zero enrichment" demand during the indirect talks.

The two sides have centered on the dilution of Iran's existing uranium stockpile, the agency said.

So far, the U.S. side has not issued any official statement regarding the talks.

The Friday talks came amid heightened regional tensions between Washington and Tehran, including a recent U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and stepped-up Iranian preparations.

The meeting marked the first round of nuclear negotiations between the two countries since U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Talks with US "a good start," both sides agree to continue negotiations: Iranian FM

Talks with US "a good start," both sides agree to continue negotiations: Iranian FM

Talks with US "a good start," both sides agree to continue negotiations: Iranian FM

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO