Washington: Iran and the United States are scheduled to engage in indirect high-level talks in Oman on Saturday, as announced by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. The negotiations are seen as a critical juncture in the ongoing discussions surrounding Tehran's nuclear program. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Araqchi communicated via X on Tuesday that this meeting represents both an opportunity and a test, emphasizing that the outcome largely depends on the United States' approach. His remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the two nations are on the verge of commencing direct talks concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, President Trump indicated that direct conversations with Iran had already begun and were slated to continue on Saturday. He described the upcoming meeting as significant and cautioned that failure to reach an agreement could result in severe consequences for Iran. Earlier, on March 7, Trump disclosed that he had sent a letter to Iran proposing nuclear negotiations. Tehran responded by rejecting direct talks, citing Washington's contradictory and hostile stance, yet expressed willingness to explore indirect discussions. In parallel, Iran has been engaged in consultations with Russia and China regarding the nuclear issue. Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, announced that the three countries are holding a tripartite meeting in Moscow to discuss the Iran nuclear deal and related aspects, including Resolution 2231.