Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that good progress was achieved in the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, and that a fourth round would be held very soon.
He made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV after several hours of negotiations between delegations of Iran and the United States in the Swiss city.
"Today, it was one of our most serious and longest rounds of negotiations. We held close to four hours of indirect talks in the morning and over two hours in the evening," Araghchi said.
He said that the talks were primarily mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi also contributing in some areas, noting Grossi's technical involvement was beneficial.
Araghchi said, "I can say that we achieved good progress during our intensive talks. We entered the elements of an agreement very seriously in the nuclear area and the (removal of) sanctions."
He added that while differences remain on some issues, the two sides have reached close understandings on others and are demonstrating greater seriousness in seeking a negotiated solution.
Araghchi said the two sides agreed to begin technical reviews in Vienna next Monday.
He added that it was also decided that the Iranian and U.S. delegations would hold the fourth round of talks very soon, perhaps in less than a week.
According to Iranian media reports on Thursday, during the negotiations, Iran reiterated its refusal to transfer enriched uranium abroad.
Tehran emphasized its right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and its capability to produce nuclear fuel, while also demanding the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
However, earlier U.S. media reports suggested that Washington may have explicitly demanded that Iran dismantle its key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and ship all remaining enriched uranium to the United States.
Also on Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed the country's opposition to developing nuclear weapons, saying that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has made clear that Iran does not intend to pursue such weapons.
The latest round of the negotiations came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and a U.S. military buildup in the West Asia region.
The first and second rounds of the negotiations were held earlier this month in the Omani capital Muscat and Geneva.
Good progress achieved in 3rd round of nuclear talks with US: Iranian FM
