"International Relations Update – Iran-US Talks & Sanctions Debate"

Trump says negotiations with Iran “going OK”

“Nothing matters until you get it done, so I don’t like talking about it, but it’s going OK,” Trump said.

“The Iran situation is going pretty good, I think,” he said on Air Force One, Reuters reported.

Saturday”s exchanges were indirect and mediated by Oman, as Iran had wanted, rather than face-to-face, as Trump had demanded. Each delegation had its separate room and exchanged messages via Oman”s foreign minister, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his delegation had a brief encounter with its US counterpart headed by Witkoff after they exited the talks.

“After the end of more than 2-1/2 hours of indirect talks, the heads of the Iranian and American delegations spoke for a few minutes in the presence of the Omani foreign minister as they left the talks. It (the encounter) was based on our political etiquette,” Araghchi said.

Araghchi said the talks took place in a “productive, calm and positive atmosphere”.

“Both sides have agreed to continue the talks … probably next Saturday,” Araghchi added. “Iran and the US side want an agreement in the short term. We do not want talks for (the sake of) talks.”

Source:

Removal of US sanctions one of Iran”s most basic rights

Remarking on Saturday, the senior official highlighted that the Islamic Republic could not close its eyes on the US’s history of non-commitment to its obligations concerning the country, but would, nevertheless, give negotiation a chance.

“We want to show that, once again, we are exercising patience. We do not forget the past events and the violent, bad, and wrongful actions taken against Iran and the Islamic world, but we are a nation that is open to negotiation and dialogue,” PressTV quoted Aref as saying.

The official was referring to the United States” unilateral and illegal withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a historical nuclear agreement between Iran and other countries. He was also pointing to Washington’s reinstatement of its unlawful sanctions and even intensification of its coercive economic measures against the Iranian nation after ditching the deal.

The remarks came following indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat, Oman, featuring Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US’s regional envoy Steve Witkoff, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi serving as the mediator.

The two sides agreed to continue discussions aiming to establish a basis for future negotiation after both described the talks as constructive.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi emphasized that Iran was giving diplomacy a sincere opportunity to address nuclear issues and the lifting of the sanctions, noting that the Islamic Republic did not seek prolonged negotiations.

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White House says Iran talks positive, constructive

The “direct communication” between President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was “very positive and constructive,” the White House said in a statement.

Witkoff “emphasized to Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations’ differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible,” the statement added, calling the talks a “step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.”

The US statement thanked Oman for its mediating role in the talks, and noted that the US ambassador to Oman, Ana Escrogima, was also present.

The White House announced that the two sides plan meet again next Saturday.

In comments reported by Iranian media earlier today, Tehran similarly described the talks as “constructive” and shared the plans for more discussions next week.

Source: Ifp Media Wire

Negotiations with Iran “going OK”: Trump

“I think they’re going OK,” Trump said Saturday while en route to a UFC fight in Miami.

“Nothing matters until you get it done. So, I don’t like talking about it. But it’s going OK. The Iran situation is going pretty good, I think,” he added.

US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff “conducted talks today in Muscat with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, which were hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr,” the White House announced in a statement earlier Saturday, describing the discussions as “direct communication” and “very positive and constructive.”

Trump has warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to potential military strikes on Iran. Tehran, in turn, has warned that any attack on it would drag the US into a broader Middle Eastern conflict.

Sources involved in the talks have told CNN that the Trump administration wants to move fast — and the two parties are expected to meet again for further discussion next Saturday.

Source: Ifp Media Wire

Iran diplomat, Guterres”s deputy discuss Iran-US talks, Gaza

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the ongoing indirect talks with the United States in Oman and exchanged views on important regional and international developments, focusing on the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine.

The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister called on Rosemary DiCarlo to use all the capacity of the United Nations and its Secretary-General to influence and stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, while referring to some of the UN”s actions in this regard, promised to increase its efforts in this humanitarian issue.

While condemning the recent military threats posed by the US, Khatibzadeh emphasized that these statements and threats are contrary to the United Nations Charter and the Secretary-General is expected to specifically condemn these illegal statements.

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Source: Marzieh Rahmani

Israeli military cuts off Gaza’s Rafah

The Israeli army’s Arabic language spokesperson on Saturday issued new forced displacement orders for several neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, warning of an imminent attack “with great force” in response to alleged Hamas rockets fired at Israel from this area.

Residents in Qizan an-Najjar, Qizan Abu Rashwan, al-Salam, al-Manara, al-Qurain, Maen, al-Batn al-Sameen, Jurt al-Lot, al-Fakhari and the southern neighbourhoods of Bani Suheila were ordered to leave their homes and proceed to al-Mawasi, on Gaza’s sea coast.

The announcement came amid a barrage of drone attacks and artillery shelling on Khan Younis that killed at least two people.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz stated the Morag Corridor effectively turned Rafah into an “Israeli security zone” and added that the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the Strip in two, would also be expanded.

“Willful passage” will be granted for Palestinians who wish to flee Gaza, Katz said in a statement, mentioning again US President Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza.

Katz told Gaza’s besieged population he was offering them the “last chance to banish Hamas and release all hostages, stopping the war,” or else Israeli operations will spread to “most of Gaza’s territory”.

Hamas issued a statement accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war despite repeated calls from within Israeli society to halt the conflict.

“The equation is clear: the release of captives in exchange for a cessation of the war. The world accepts it, but Netanyahu rejects it,” it stressed.

“The blood of Gaza’s children and the occupation’s prisoners are victims of Netanyahu’s ambitions to remain in power and to escape prosecution”.

About 2.1 million Palestinians are now squeezed into about one-third of Gaza and no trucks carrying aid, food, cooking gas, or fuel have entered the Strip since Israel reimposed a blockade last month. Katz has publicly stated that, since breaking the ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, Israel’s goal has been to apply pressure on the civilian population, the correspondent added.

Source: Ehsan Ghasri

VIDEO: Putin shaking hand with Trump”s envoy

Apr 13, 2025

Mehr News Agency

Asia-Pacific

Middle East

North America

South America

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/230493/

Apr 13, 2025, 10:37 AM

News ID 230493

Apr 13, 2025, 10:37 AM

VIDEO: Putin shaking hand with Trump”s envoy

TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA) – Russia’s Putin shakes hands with US special envoy Steve Witkoff before St Petersburg talks.

News ID 230493

Marzieh Rahmani

Vladimir Putin

Donald Trump

Steve Witkoff

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