On Saturday, Iran and the United States are set to engage in a new round of nuclear discussions in Rome, aimed at addressing the long-standing tensions regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The negotiations take place amidst President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military action should diplomatic efforts fall short.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will conduct indirect negotiations through Omani mediators with Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy for the Middle East. This meeting follows a prior session in Muscat, which both nations characterized as productive.
Amid rising hopes, Tehran has attempted to manage expectations about a swift resolution, particularly after some Iranian officials hinted at possible sanctions relief in the near future. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed a measured outlook, stating he remains “neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic” about the talks.
President Trump, speaking to the press on Friday, reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “I’m for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon,” he asserted, emphasizing his desire for Iran to thrive economically and socially.
Since abandoning the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018 and reinstating harsh sanctions, Trump has intensified his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran following his return to office in January.
The United States is pressing Iran to stop its production of highly enriched uranium, which is viewed as a step towards developing nuclear arms. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful but has indicated a willingness to discuss some limitations in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, Iran demands solid assurances that the U.S. will not withdraw from any agreement, as they did under Trump in 2018.
Since 2019, Iran has significantly exceeded the uranium enrichment limits of the 2015 agreement, storing quantities that the West deems unnecessary for a civilian energy program.
An Iranian official, speaking privately, outlined the nation’s non-negotiable terms, which include refusing to dismantle its centrifuges, halt enrichment entirely, or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below the agreed levels. Tehran also opposes any discussions concerning its missile defense capabilities.
Despite both Iran and the U.S. expressing a commitment to dialogue, a considerable divide remains in the nearly two-decade-long dispute.
While Witkoff and Araqchi exchanged brief remarks at the conclusion of the prior talks, direct negotiations between the two nations have not occurred since 2015. Iran has confirmed that discussions in Rome will similarly occur through Omani intermediaries.
Additionally, Russia, a participant in the 2015 nuclear deal, has offered its assistance and mediation in the negotiations to facilitate a resolution beneficial for both Iran and the United States.
