Iran, US to Hold Talks in Rome in Bid to Reach Nuclear Deal

 

Iran, US to Hold Talks in Rome in Bid to Reach Nuclear Deal Iran and the United States are set to engage in a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday, aiming to resolve their decades-long standoff concerning Tehran's nuclear ambitions. These discussions occur amid President Donald Trump's threats to take military action if diplomatic efforts fail. The negotiations will involve Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who will communicate indirectly through mediators from Oman. This upcoming round follows a first session in Muscat that both parties described as constructive. Araqchi has arrived in Rome for the talks, as indicated by a post on his Telegram account. He stated in Moscow on Friday that Iran believes a deal concerning its nuclear program with the U.S. is attainable, provided that Washington approaches the negotiations realistically.

Despite this optimistic outlook, Iranian officials have tempered expectations concerning a swift agreement, particularly after some hinted that sanctions could potentially be lifted soon. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described his outlook on the negotiations as "neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic," signaling a cautious approach. On his part, Trump reiterated his position on Friday, saying, "I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific." Trump unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six powers during his first term in 2018, reinstating stringent sanctions on Tehran. Since returning to the White House, he has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. Washington’s primary demand is for Iran to cease the production of highly enriched uranium, which the U.S. believes is intended for developing nuclear weapons.

Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and has expressed a willingness to negotiate curbs in exchange for sanction relief. However, Iran has insisted on robust guarantees that the U.S. will not withdraw from any agreement as it did in 2018. Since 2019, Iran has exceeded the limits set by the 2015 deal regarding uranium enrichment, accumulating stocks well beyond what Western nations consider necessary for a civilian energy program. An anonymous senior Iranian official outlined the country’s non-negotiable terms, which include not agreeing to dismantle its uranium enrichment centrifuges, halting enrichment altogether, or reducing its enriched uranium stockpile below the levels established in the 2015 agreement. Iran also flatly rejects including its missile defense capabilities in any negotiations.

While both Tehran and Washington have reiterated their commitment to pursuing diplomacy, significant gaps remain in their positions on the contentious issues that have persisted for over two decades. Witkoff and Araqchi had a brief interaction at the conclusion of their previous round of talks, but direct negotiations between the two nations have not occurred since 2015. Iran has confirmed that the upcoming talks in Rome will also proceed indirectly, facilitated by Omani mediators. Additionally, Russia, a participant in the 2015 nuclear agreement, has offered to "assist, mediate, and play any role" conducive to facilitating negotiations between Iran and the United States.

See also: Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire Proposal, Deepening Gaza Conflict.