Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran have begun direct talks regarding its nuclear program. "We're having direct talks with Iran, and they've started. It'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we'll see what can happen. And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

According to Qatar News Agency, Trump expressed his preference for reaching an agreement on Iran's nuclear program rather than resorting to military confrontation, as broadcast on Alhurra channel's website.

Commenting on these statements, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington will begin next Saturday in the Sultanate of Oman. He underlined that this is an opportunity and a test as well, with the ball now in the US' court.