MUSCAT, Oman — The Trump administration sounded cautiously optimistic after US and Iranian negotiators concluded their latest round of nuclear talks on Sunday, agreeing to reconvene to hammer out the technical details of a potential deal. 

“We are encouraged by today's outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future,” a senior US administration official said, adding that an agreement was reached “to continue working through technical elements.”

Iran’s reaction after the talks wrapped in Muscat was more measured. Its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, called the talks “difficult but useful” and said the Gulf Sultanate of Oman would coordinate the fifth round of dialogue. 

Trump is said to be hoping for a quick win, as peace deals in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine remain out of reach, and the Iranians are eager for sanctions relief to revive their beleaguered economy. The recent ceasefire between Iran's proxy in Yemen, the Houthis, and the United States has also given renewed energy to the talks, sources in the Omani capital said.