Rome: Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme again next week, after the sides described their talks Saturday as “constructive” and making “very good progress.” A US official confirmed that at a point during the negotiations in Rome, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face.

Before they meet again in Oman on April 26, Araghchi said earlier that technical-level talks would be held in the coming days. That experts would be discussing details of a possible deal suggests movement in the talks and comes as Trump has pushed for a rapid deal while threatening military action against Iran.

The sides “made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions,” according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic meeting.

Araghchi told Iranian state television that “the talks were held in a constructive environment and I can say that is moving forward. I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.” He added: “This time, we succeeded to reach a better understanding about a sort of principles and aims.” While the US said both direct and indirect discussions were held, Iranian officials described them as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling........

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