Daijiworld Media Network- Tehran
Tehran, Apr 19: In a bid to break the impasse over Iran's nuclear programme, Tehran and Washington are set to engage in a fresh round of indirect negotiations in Rome on Saturday, mediated by Omani diplomats. This follows a reportedly constructive first round of talks in Muscat last week.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, will be negotiating through Omani intermediaries, as the two countries have not engaged in direct talks since the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The renewed talks come as President Trump maintains a firm stance, reiterating on Friday, “I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon… I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.” Trump, who re-entered the White House in January, has reignited his “maximum pressure” campaign, having previously withdrawn from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and reimposed stringent sanctions.
Tehran, on its part, has tempered expectations, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stating this week that he was “neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic” about the diplomatic efforts. Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, and has signalled openness to negotiating certain limits in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, but demands ironclad assurances that the U.S. won’t renege again.
Since 2019, Iran has significantly breached the JCPOA’s uranium enrichment limits, building stockpiles far beyond civilian energy needs, according to Western assessments. A senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously, outlined Tehran’s red lines: no dismantling of centrifuges, no cessation of enrichment, and no negotiations on missile capabilities.
Despite the mutual emphasis on diplomacy, significant differences remain. While there was a brief interaction between Witkoff and Araqchi after last week's round, Saturday’s session will also be indirect.
Meanwhile, Russia, a signatory to the original 2015 deal, has extended an offer to mediate or assist in any capacity beneficial to advancing the dialogue between Iran and the United States.