Iran Conducts Indirect Talks On Nuclear Affairs With The United States Through The Oman Intermediary

Iran's nuclear facility in Natanz. (WIkimedia Commons/Hamed Saber)

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said on Thursday his country was still holding indirect nuclear talks with the United States through Oman, as quoted by the Etemad newspaper.

Bagheri Kani's statement follows a statement on Monday, in which a White House spokesman said the United States was not prepared to resume nuclear talks with Iran under the newly elected president Masoud Pezeshkian.

"Indirect talks are being carried out through Oman, but the negotiation process is confidential and details cannot be recounted," Bagheri Kani said.

Efforts are underway to abandon "the appropriate means" for negotiations for Iran's new government to take office in the next few weeks.

Pezeshkian, a prominent moderate who won Iran's second round presidential election last week, said he would promote pragmatic foreign policy and ease tensions with six countries involved in nuclear negotiations that have now stalled to revive the 2015 nuclear pact.

However, Iran's foreign policy will be decided by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who warned last month before the election, "people who think that nothing can be done without American help, will not manage the country well."

Citing Tasnim News Agency, Pezeshkian will be sworn in on July 30, having previously been rumored to be sworn in in early August.

Pezeshkian took office at a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East over Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and over cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has exacerbated disputes between Tehran and Washington.