ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Before departing for Oman for the fourth round of nuclear talks with arch-foe United States on Sunday, Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi expressed hope that the negotiations would reach a “decisive point,” reiterating that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium was “non-negotiable.”

Through the mediation of Oman, the US and Iran have held three rounds of indirect talks since April, aimed at negotiating a deal on Iran’s nuclear program. Today’s talks will take place around midday.  

"We had more consultations in Tehran this morning, and in this round we hope to reach a decisive point," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before heading to Muscat.  

Araghchi emphasized that they would not compromise on Tehran’s right to enrich uranium. 

"Enrichment capability is one of the honours and achievements of the Iranian nation," said Araghchi in a video before departing to Muscat to attend the fourth round of talks with the US, adding that it was "non-negotiable.”  

Tehran has repeatedly stressed that a new nuclear deal must lead to the removal of sanctions and economic pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the Iranian team will also seek sanctions relief during Sunday’s talks with US officials.  

"The delegation ... will spare no effort to protect the Iranian nation's interests and safeguard our precious achievements in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, while simultaneously lifting the sanctions," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

US President Donald Trump, during his first term in 2018, walked away from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran, which was introduced three years earlier in 2015 by his predecessor Barack Obama. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal provided sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for placing curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.  

The US and Western powers seek robust assurances that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons.