Iran and U.S. Set to Resume Nuclear Talks in Rome

Rome (Eurotoday) – On Saturday, Iran and the United States are set to resume nuclear talks in Rome, seeking to resolve their protracted dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. The renewed diplomatic effort comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterates that military action remains a possibility if negotiations collapse.

According to Reuters, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will engage in indirect talks, with an Omani official acting as a mediator. These discussions follow a previous round of indirect negotiations in Muscat, which both sides described as “constructive.”

At the end of the Muscat round, Araqchi and Witkoff briefly interacted. However, direct talks between Iranian and U.S. officials have not taken place since the 2015 nuclear agreement brokered during the Obama administration.

Araqchi is already in Rome, sources confirm. Speaking from Moscow on Friday, he stated that Iran believes a nuclear deal is still achievable, provided that Washington adopts a realistic stance.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy. “We have always approached negotiations with goodwill and a sense of responsibility,” said Esmaeil Baghaei. “Although the path ahead is challenging, we move forward with careful deliberation and lessons from the past.”

Are Iran and the U.S. Ready for Compromise?

This week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shared a neutral outlook, saying he was “neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic.” Meanwhile, Trump told reporters on Friday:

“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.”

Will Trump’s Pressure Derail Diplomacy Again?

Trump withdrew from the landmark 2015 nuclear accord in 2018 and reimposed strict sanctions on Tehran. Since returning to office in January, he has doubled down on his “maximum pressure” campaign. Washington’s primary goal remains preventing Iran from enriching uranium to levels that could be used to produce nuclear weapons.

What Does Iran Assert?

Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and has expressed readiness to accept certain limitations in return for the lifting of sanctions. However, Tehran insists on firm assurances that the U.S. will not renege on any future agreement as it did in 2018.

Since 2019, Iran has been enriching uranium beyond the limits set by the 2015 deal—accumulating quantities far exceeding what is needed for civilian nuclear energy purposes, according to Western analysts.

Iran also refuses to discuss its defense capabilities, including its ballistic missile program, which has expanded significantly in both range and production. Russia, a signatory of the 2015 accord, has offered to facilitate talks and play a constructive mediating role.