US and Iranian officials made “significant progress” in the high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva, Oman’s foreign minister said on Thursday, but the chances of a deal that could avert a war remain unclear.
Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the indirect talks, said the two sides planned to resume negotiations “soon” after consultations in their capitals, and technical-level discussions would take place next week in Vienna.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led his country’s delegation, said “good progress” had been made but while there had been agreement on some issues, differences remained on others.
He said more negotiations would happen in a less than a week. President Trump’s commments on Friday were the first official reaction from the US.
Meanwhile, the State Department announced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Israel on Monday, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rubio will discuss “a range of regional priorities” including Iran, a spokesman said.
Earlier on Friday US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised embassy staff who wished to leave Israel to “do so TODAY”, the New York Times reported.
He reportedly said in email there was “no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later”.
A statement on the embassy’s website said they “may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available”.
It came days after the US government ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, following a security review.