Iran says indirect talks with US continue via Oman

Tehran, Iran (AFP):

Iran on Monday said that it has continued indirect negotiations with the Unites States through the Sultanate of Oman over its nuclear deal and a possible prisoner swap.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been the subject of scrutiny from Western powers, resulting in sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy.

A 2015 deal granted Tehran much-needed sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program before it was torpedoed by the United States’ unilateral pullout in 2018.

Of late, the two states have denied media reports that they were close to reaching an interim deal to replace the 2015 accord.

“We welcome the efforts of Omani officials and we exchanged messages with the other party through this mediator” over the lifting of US sanctions, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said on Monday.

“We have never stopped the diplomatic processes,” he added during his weekly press conference, emphasizing that the talks “were not secret”.

Iran and its arch-nemesis the United States have also been involved in Oman-mediated talks over a possible prisoner swap.

Kanani on Monday said a prisoner exchange could be agreed “in the near future”, provided that Washington exhibits “the same level of seriousness” as Tehran.

At least three Iranian-Americans are being held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage.

In the last few weeks, Iran has released six European citizens and recovered an Iranian diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, who had been imprisoned in Belgium for involvement in “terrorism”.

Kanani also denied that Iran had provided Russia with equipment to “build a drone factory”.

“We deny any accusations regarding the export of arms to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine,” Kanani said.