https://arab.news/psqvj
TEHRAN: Iran鈥檚 supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday he was satisfied with talks with arch-foe the US but warned they could ultimately prove fruitless.
Tehran and Washington are due to meet again in Muscat on Saturday, a week after top officials held the highest-level talks since the landmark 2015 nuclear accord collapsed.
US President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the deal during his first term, revived his 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥� sanctions campaign after returning to office in January.
In March, he sent a letter to Khamenei urging talks and warning of possible military action if Iran refused.
Saturday鈥檚 talks were 鈥渨ell carried out in the first steps,鈥� Khamenei said, quoted by state television. 鈥淥f course, we are very pessimistic about the other side, but we are optimistic about our own capabilities.鈥�
But he added that 鈥渢he negotiations may or may not yield results.鈥�
Despite having no diplomatic ties since Iran鈥檚 1979 Islamic Revolution, both sides described the talks as 鈥渃onstructive.鈥�
Iran insists discussions remain 鈥渋ndirect鈥� and mediated by Oman.
On Monday, Trump again threatened to strike Iran鈥檚 nuclear facilities if no deal was reached, calling Iranian authorities 鈥渞adicals鈥� who should not possess nuclear weapons.