Muscat: US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that progress is being made in negotiations with Iran, as the United States engages at the highest levels to address the Iranian nuclear issue. There is a sense of American optimism surrounding the potential to reach an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program in the near future.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Trump expressed to reporters aboard Air Force One that discussions with Iran are proceeding positively. He stated, “The agreement with Iran is going very well… We are negotiating at the highest levels with Iran, and I think they want to reach an agreement, and we want to reach an agreement as well.”

Expert-level talks are set to commence on Saturday in the Sultanate of Oman, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi already in Muscat for a third round of indirect talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump reiterated his optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement, emphasizing the constructive nature of ongoing discussions. He expressed a preference for reaching a consensus over any alternative, stating, “The talks are going very well. We’ve had a lot of talks with them, and I think we’ll reach an agreement. I much prefer an agreement to the other alternative.”

Trump discussed the possibility of starting with an interim agreement, emphasizing the aim for a long-term solution that would prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He highlighted the financial and safety benefits of such an agreement, noting, “Having a nuclear weapon is very expensive… but it’s also very dangerous, and they can’t have a nuclear weapon. And because of that alone, I’m saving them billions and billions of dollars.”

The US President acknowledged differing opinions on the type of agreement to pursue, mentioning that some advocate for a more aggressive approach. However, he indicated a preference for avoiding such a scenario with Iran, if possible.