TEHRAN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday night met his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi ahead of the new round of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington scheduled for Thursday in Geneva.
The meeting took place shortly after Araghchi arrived in the Swiss city, marking the effective start of the third round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, said a statement released by Iran's Foreign Ministry early Thursday.
During the talks, Araghchi outlined Iran's positions on the nuclear issue and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, conveying Tehran's views and considerations to the Omani side.
He expressed appreciation for Oman's role in facilitating the ongoing diplomatic process, stressing that the success of the negotiations hinges on the other side's seriousness and its avoidance of contradictory actions and statements.
Albusaidi reaffirmed Oman's readiness to continue its good offices and support efforts to advance the diplomatic path. He commended Iran's commitment to a diplomatic approach to the nuclear issue and expressed hope that the negotiations would yield satisfactory results.
The third round of the negotiations comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in the wake of a U.S. military buildup in West Asia. The first and second rounds of talks were held earlier this month in Muscat and Geneva. ■
