US-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume in Rome Amid Regional Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The United States and Iran launched a second round of sensitive nuclear negotiations in Rome on Saturday, with envoys from both countries holding indirect talks aimed at preventing further escalation and reviving a diplomatic path forward.
Iran-US Nuclear Talks Resume in Rome — Quick Look
- Witkoff and Araghchi meet again, this time in Rome, with Omani mediation
- Talks center on halting Iran’s nuclear advancements amid rising Mideast tensions
- IAEA’s Rafael Grossi and Italy’s foreign minister join parallel discussions
- Tehran seeks sanctions relief, while Washington demands strict uranium limits
- Trump: “I’m for stopping Iran from having a nuclear weapon”
Round Two: US-Iran Nuclear Negotiations Continue in Rome
Deep Looks
ROME, April 19, 2025 — The United States and Iran resumed indirect negotiations on Saturday in Rome, seeking to curb Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program amid soaring regional tensions and fears of military escalation.
The talks are taking place behind closed doors at the Omani Embassy in Rome’s upscale Camilluccia district. US envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s point man for the Middle East, is representing Washington, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leads Tehran’s delegation. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi is again serving as mediator.
“I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific — but without a nuclear weapon,” President Trump said Friday.
A Historic Diplomatic Opening
Despite decades of hostility since Iran’s 1979 revolution, diplomats are cautiously optimistic after face-to-face contact last week in Muscat, Oman — the first such meeting in years. The dialogue represents a rare direct channel between Tehran and Washington, after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term.
Iranian state media confirmed the Saturday talks began just before noon. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei described them as “indirect,” noting that delegations were in separate halls, communicating through Omani mediators.
Baghaei emphasized Tehran’s “good faith” and commitment to diplomacy despite recognizing the path ahead as “not smooth.”
Rising Stakes: Military Strikes and Regional Unrest
The urgency of the Rome talks is underscored by growing fears of armed conflict. A potential US or Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites looms, while Tehran has threatened to pursue atomic weapons if negotiations collapse.
Simultaneously, the Middle East remains volatile after US airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen killed more than 70 people last week — and as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza continues to destabilize the region.
Europe Steps In: Italy and the IAEA
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met with Araghchi Saturday and signaled Italy’s willingness to host further rounds of technical talks.
“A diplomatic deal is built patiently, day after day, with dialogue and mutual respect,” Tajani said.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, whose agency would monitor compliance with any potential deal, also held consultations in Rome.
Delegations Arrive From Busy Diplomatic Circuits
- Witkoff arrived in Rome after nuclear and Ukraine-related talks in Paris.
- Araghchi traveled from Tehran, where he had just concluded meetings in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin.
Russia, a key player in the original 2015 deal, is seen as a potential custodian for Iran’s high-grade uranium, which is now enriched to 60% purity — dangerously close to weapons-grade.
Iran Pushes Back on Enrichment Demands
Iranian officials remain adamant that Tehran will not give up enrichment rights, rejecting comparisons to Libya’s nuclear disarmament.
“Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not a surrender,” wrote Ali Shamkhani, top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Witkoff’s earlier suggestion that Iran might enrich to 3.67% before walking back his remarks has sparked confusion, with Iranian negotiators demanding clarity.
Economic Pressures Drive Tehran’s Urgency
Iran is under intense economic strain:
- Its currency, the rial, plunged to over 1 million to the dollar earlier this month, though it has recovered slightly amid diplomatic hopes.
- Inflation is high, protests continue over hijab enforcement, and rumors swirl of a gasoline price hike — a flashpoint for previous mass demonstrations.
Iran is also attempting to circumvent US sanctions with aircraft acquisitions. This week, two used Airbus A330s, previously grounded in Oman, arrived in Tehran with Rolls-Royce engines containing American-made components — a transaction likely requiring U.S. Treasury approval.
Nuclear Oversight and Compliance
Should a deal be reached, Grossi’s IAEA would resume inspections, providing the international community with oversight of Iran’s uranium stockpiles, centrifuge activity, and facility transparency.
The original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) permitted Iran to purchase new aircraft, sell oil, and reintegrate into global trade. Many of those gains evaporated after Trump’s 2018 exit from the deal.
Outlook: Diplomacy vs. Stalemate
Negotiators remain tight-lipped about specific proposals. Yet both sides express willingness to avoid military confrontation — if a “balanced agreement” can be struck.
As regional and global stakes mount, Rome may offer a turning point.
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