US‑Iran talks in Rome could reshape nuclear dialogue
On Saturday, the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran will take place in Rome. The Americans are pushing for direct talks, which could impact the future of Iran's nuclear programme.
What do you need to know?
- Where will the talks take place? The second round of negotiations between the US and Iran is scheduled for Saturday in Rome. This continues the discussions that were held in Oman.
- What are the expectations of the US? According to the Axios portal, the American side is advocating for direct talks with Iran, possibly indicating a shift in the current negotiation format.
- What is the context of the talks? The discussions concern the future of Iran's nuclear programme, which has been a contentious issue on the international stage.
Meeting in Oman: Each side in a different room
According to sources from the Axios portal, the administration of US President Donald Trump was pleased with the meeting in Oman, which marked the first high-level contact between the two sides in eight years. The proposal for the next round of talks to be held in Rome came from Washington, Axios reported.
The meeting in Oman, which lasted over two and a half hours, was conducted in an indirect format. Each side was in a separate room, and messages were relayed between them by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.
In Rome, they are set to meet in one room
Later, the US government's special envoy Steve Witkoff spoke directly with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi for 45 minutes, a duration longer than publicly disclosed, according to one source, describing the talks as "substantive, serious, and excellent."
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that the next round of talks will proceed in an indirect format, but according to Axios sources, in Rome, both delegations may be seated in one room. They will also be accompanied by Omani mediators in the Italian capital.
What are the international reactions?
After the meeting in Oman concluded, no details regarding the content of the talks, which were to address the future of Iran's nuclear programme, were disclosed to the public. In his first term, Trump led to the collapse of the agreement between Iran and world powers, which limited its nuclear programme in exchange for the easing of sanctions.
Since then, Iran has exceeded the limits imposed by the agreement concerning uranium enrichment. Israel and some Western countries accuse Iran of continuing to develop its own nuclear weapons. The authorities in Tehran insist that their nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes and that possessing nuclear weapons contravenes the principles of Islam.
