The negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the latter's nuclear program continued for a third weekend on Saturday, moving from last week's venue in Italy to the home country of the mediators, Oman.

Both sides have come away each time by describing the prior talks as positive, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisting to his domestic, state-controlled media that most of the conversations have been more of a getting-to-know-you process than anything approaching hard bargaining. As I wrote on Apr. 12, the Associated Press reporting hinted that "Araghchi tiptoed around the tone of the meeting":

Araghchi, however, sought to downplay the encounter as “a brief initial conversation, greetings and polite exchanges” — likely to avoid drawing the anger of hard-liners in Iran.

Since this is the Iranians we're talking about, of course, it's hard to know exactly.

READ: Remarkable: There's a New Update on Direct Talks Between the US and Iran

Report: Israel Might Take Limited Military Action vs. Iran Under Certain Conditions 

Now, the U.S. and Iran appear to be swinging into a new, more serious phase--talking about Iran's nuke capabilities:

Iran and the U.S. began negotiations in Oman on Saturday over Tehran's advancing nuclear program, and the talks will likely depend on the Islamic Republic's enrichment of uranium.

According to Iranian state media, the talks began on Saturday in Oman's capital of Muscat. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff offered no immediate details on the talks.

Araghchi arrived on Friday in Oman and met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who had mediated the two earlier rounds of talks in Muscat and Rome. Araghchi was seen heading to the talks late Saturday morning.

Witkoff, according to the new report, arrived to take part in the negotiations on Saturday, so he likely also showed up at the meetings in the morning.

As we wrote on Thursday, someone else will be working alongside Witkoff in this phase, in what are being called "expert talks" on Iran and its nuclear future--State Department official Michael Anton.

On his way to Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral service, President Trump made some comments to reporters on the plane about the Iran talks, repeating his prior warning that the U.S. military could bomb Iran without a deal getting struck.

"The Iran situation is coming out very well," he continued. "We've had a lot of talks with them and I think we're going to have a deal. I'd much rather have a deal than the other alternative. That would be good for humanity."

This is a developing story. RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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