Fourth round of indirect Iran-US talks to be held on Sunday

In an interview, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, discussed the indirect Iran-US talks, his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, and the erratic behavior of US officials regarding the negotiations:

Mr. Minister, regarding the arrangements for the fourth round of indirect talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, has a specific time been set by you, the US representative, or even Oman, and how will it proceed?

The timing and location of the talks are determined by the host country, which is Oman. Our Omani friends asked us about Sunday, and we confirmed our agreement. Apparently, they have also spoken with the other side, and so far, the talks are scheduled for Sunday. We are waiting for the Omani side to coordinate the start time.

In any case, the negotiations are moving forward, and it’s natural that as we progress, we need more consultations and reviews, and the delegations require more time to assess the issues raised. What’s important is that we are on a forward-moving path, gradually delving into the details.

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s professional conduct in the negotiations contrasts with the erratic behavior of Washington officials, who raise new points every day. You and the negotiating team act with complete professionalism and defined protocols. Where does this agitation from the other side stem from?

Our positions in the negotiations are principled and grounded, making them non-negotiable, and we move forward on the principled path we’ve designed. But you’re right—we receive contradictory messages from the other side. Different individuals make varying statements, and sometimes a person’s statement is contradicted by themselves the same day or the next. This is one of the challenges. Some believe it’s due to the new US administration starting its work, not yet being fully settled, or not having clearly defined their positions. Others attribute it to negotiating tactics.

From our perspective, whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. We follow our own path, and our positions are completely clear. We stand firm on our stance, moving forward wherever the interests of the Iranian people are secured and standing our ground where they are not. We’re not overly concerned with these contradictory statements and continue on our path.

Regarding your trip to Saudi Arabia tomorrow and your meetings with high-ranking officials of that country, please elaborate on the significance of this diplomatic visit as the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

My trip tomorrow to Saudi Arabia and Qatar is, in the case of Saudi Arabia, about continuing consultations on regional issues and the indirect negotiations with the US. From the outset, we’ve maintained continuous consultations and constant communication with regional countries. We believe the sustainability of any potential agreement largely depends on addressing the concerns of regional countries, their interests, and the shared benefits between Iran and them in the nuclear domain.

There are concerns they have and shared interests between us. Keeping them regularly informed is, in my view, a positive step we’ve taken from the beginning, and it has yielded good results. Fortunately, regional countries have shown strong cooperation with these negotiations. Tomorrow morning, I will travel to Saudi Arabia and hold meetings there.

After Saudi Arabia, in the afternoon or evening, I will travel to Qatar, where the Iran-Arab Dialogue Forum, organized by Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and Qatar’s Al Jazeera Studies Center, will take place. This is the fourth round, and I played a role in the previous three rounds when I was at the council. I will speak at the opening of this forum.

This is a very important forum aimed at fostering greater understanding between Iran and Arab countries. In past rounds, we’ve had productive discussions, and it’s crucial for both sides to be aware of each other’s perspectives, concerns, and areas of mutual cooperation. This leads to better understanding, reduced differences, and ultimately less tension in relations between regional countries.