Iran FM to head to Moscow, discuss US nuclear talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit Moscow later this week to discuss recent nuclear talks with the United States that took place in Oman.

Araghchi met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on Saturday, marking the highest-level contact between the two countries on nuclear issues since the 2015 nuclear deal fell apart. Both Iran and the US described the meeting as “constructive.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Araghchi’s Moscow trip was planned in advance and will serve as a chance to go over the key points from the Muscat discussions.

The meeting in Oman came just weeks after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing interest in reopening nuclear negotiations, but also warning of possible military consequences if Iran refuses.

Russia and China, both key allies of Iran, have also been in talks with Tehran recently regarding its nuclear program. Russia welcomed the Iran-US talks and stressed the need for a peaceful solution, warning that military conflict would have disastrous global consequences.

The next round of Iran-US nuclear talks is set to take place in Rome on Saturday, April 19.

Iran has yet to confirm the location, but the Dutch foreign minister and diplomatic sources said that the upcoming discussions would be held in the Italian capital.