Tehran: Tehran says negotiations with Washington are held indirectly because direct talks have not been proven useful. Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that indirect talks are not unconventional and emphasized the need for effective negotiations to yield results.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the US president's special envoy for West Asia affairs, Steve Witkoff, led the first round of indirect talks in Muscat, focusing on the nuclear issue and ending Washington's sanctions against Tehran. Baqaei remarked that direct negotiations are neither useful nor acceptable in situations where one side uses force, stressing the importance of lifting sanctions imposed on Iran.

Baqaei highlighted Iran's commitment to engaging with all members of the 2015 Iran deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He mentioned that Araqchi is scheduled to visit Russia to discuss developments related to the Muscat talks. Coordination within Iran on these negotiations is high, with lawmakers being briefed accordingly.

The spokesperson announced that Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will visit Tehran to address logistics issues. This visit aligns with Iran's ongoing interactions with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Regarding economic relations, Baqaei stated that Iran welcomes investment, including from the U.S., but blamed American laws for hindering such cooperation. He criticized European sanctions, labeling them unlawful and unconstructive, and pointed to Israel as the root cause of regional insecurity, citing ongoing conflicts in Palestine and the broader region.