TEHRAN, Apr 15 (AFP): Iran's foreign minister is to visit ally Russia this week to discuss nuclear negotiations with the United States, ahead of a new round of talks planned between the foes.
On Saturday, Abbas Araghchi held talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman-the highest-level discussions since the 2015 nuclear accord collapsed.
"The first meeting was positive, constructive, compelling," Witkoff said in a Fox News interview on Monday.
Any nuclear deal between the United States and Iran "is going to be much about verification on the enrichment programme", he said, appearing to stop short of calling for a complete dismantling of Tehran's nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 deal, has brought Iran back into the spotlight since returning to office in January. In March, he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for nuclear talks and warning of possible military action if Tehran refused.
Western countries, including the United States, have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its programme is for peaceful purposes.
Russia, a close ally of Iran and party to the 2015 deal, and China have engaged with Tehran in recent weeks over its nuclear programme.
"Dr Araghchi will travel to Moscow at the end of the week," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that the pre-planned trip would be "an opportunity to discuss the latest developments related to the Muscat talks".
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Araghchi would meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and other officials. Iran and the United States have both described Saturday's discussions as "constructive".
