Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Feb 10: Iran on Tuesday said recent nuclear-related talks with the United States helped Tehran assess Washington’s seriousness and revealed sufficient consensus to continue on the diplomatic path.

Iranian and US diplomats held indirect talks through Omani mediators in Muscat last week, marking a renewed diplomatic effort amid heightened regional tensions. The discussions came after US President Donald Trump deployed a naval flotilla in the region, fuelling concerns over possible military escalation.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the Muscat talks were brief and primarily aimed at evaluating the intent of the US side. “The Muscat meeting was not a long meeting. In our view, it was to gauge the seriousness of the other side and how to continue this path,” he said.

Baghaei added that Iran felt there was mutual understanding following the talks. “After the discussions, we felt there was understanding and consensus to continue the diplomatic process,” he said.

He also clarified that senior Iranian leader Ali Larijani’s visit to Oman on Tuesday was pre-planned and part of ongoing regional consultations. Larijani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, is expected to travel to Qatar next as part of the same outreach.

Commenting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expected visit to Washington on Wednesday, Baghaei said the United States should take independent decisions. He added that Washington “must act independently of foreign pressures, especially Israeli pressures that ignore the interests of the region and even the US.”