Rome diplomacy: US‑Iran nuclear talks enter crucial phase
According to a report by Reuters, with information from Iranian state media, the second round of talks between the USA and Iran concerning the nuclear programme is scheduled for 19 April in Rome. It has been announced that mediators from Oman will participate in the meeting.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when will the talks take place? The second round of American-Iranian discussions will occur on 19th April in Rome. Mediators from Oman will be present, which may influence the negotiation atmosphere.'
- How did the first round of talks go? The first round took place on 12th April in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The meeting was held indirectly and concluded in a "good, friendly atmosphere."
- What are the main challenges? Internal differences within the US administration regarding demands on Iran may complicate the negotiations.
What are the key challenges in the talks?
American-Iranian discussions about Tehran's nuclear programme are complicated by internal differences in the US administration. "The New York Times" reports conflicting views among officials regarding demands on Iran.
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are advocating for the deprivation of Iran's ability to enrich uranium. However, others, like Steve Witkoff, are concerned that such demands might derail the discussions.
Will the IAEA play a key role?
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, emphasises that the agency must be involved in the talks for the agreement to be credible.
Grossi stated in an interview with Le Monde, "Without us, any agreement is just a piece of paper." The IAEA has initiated informal consultations and must assess every final agreement version.
This is another round of talks
On Monday, the state agency IRNA reported, citing the head of the Iranian foreign ministry, Abbas Araghchi, that the talks will take place in Rome. In Muscat, Oman, the first round of negotiations was conducted on 12th April. After these discussions, representatives of the delegations of Iran and the USA and the host of the meeting, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, assured that the negotiations proceeded in a "good, friendly atmosphere" and had a "constructive" character. The meeting, lasting over two and a half hours, was held indirectly, with each party in a separate room and messages conveyed by the Omani foreign minister. After the negotiations concluded, Araghchi personally engaged in dialogue with the head of the American delegation, President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mohsen Rezaei expressed concerns about the inconsistent statements from US President Donald Trump and his envoy, Witkoff. Rezaei believes such actions increase Iran's distrust, especially after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.
