US and Iran make significant progress in talks, will meet again soon

The United States and Iran made significant progress in talks on Thursday aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes, mediator Oman said, amid Washington's large-scale military buildup in the Middle East.



The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their countries' capitals, with techical-level discussions scheduled to take place next week in Vienna, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X after the day's talks ended in Switzerland.



Any substantial move toward an elusive agreement between longtime foes Washington and Tehran could reduce the imminent prospects for U.S President Donald Trump to carry out a threatened attack on Iran that many fear could escalate into a wider war.



The Omani minister's upbeat assessment followed indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva, with one session in the morning and the second in the afternoon.