Iran and US to continue talks for nuclear deal

The United States and Iran said they have agreed to hold another round of talks on Tehran's nuclear program next week. US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met in Rome on Saturday. The two also held talks in Oman one week earlier. 

The Iranian foreign ministry said Araghchi and Witkoff held indirect talks mediated by Oman's foreign minister, as they did in the first round of talks. After the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister told state-run television that the two sides "managed to attain better understanding on a number of principles and targets."

Araghchi said they are set to hold expert meetings on Wednesday, in order to work out a framework for a potential agreement. He added that negotiators will then meet again on Saturday for another round of high-level talks. Iran's state-run news agency reported that the issue of a complete halt of Iran's nuclear program was not raised during Saturday's negotiations.