Iran, US begin new round of indirect nuclear talks in Rome

Iran and the United States (US) have started a new round of indirect nuclear talks in Rome to resolve their long-standing differences over Iran’s nuclear program. The discussions come amid renewed tension, as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if diplomacy fails.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are not meeting face-to-face but are communicating through an Omani official, continuing from a first round of talks held in Muscat last week, which both sides called “constructive.”

This is the first interaction between U.S. and Iranian officials on this issue since 2015, when talks were held under former President Barack Obama.

Before the talks, Araqchi met with Italy’s foreign minister and said Iran is committed to diplomacy. He called for a fair nuclear deal that respects Iran’s rights and lifts what he described as unjust sanctions. Araqchi also said an agreement is possible if the U.S. takes a realistic approach.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome is proud to host talks that promote peace and dialogue. “The hope is that a positive solution for the Middle East can be reached,” he wrote on social media.

However, Iran has warned against high expectations for a quick agreement. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week he is “neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic.”

President Trump, who abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term, said he wants to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon, but also wants to see the country “great and prosperous.”

Meanwhile, Israel has not ruled out a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear sites in the coming months.

The U.S. wants Iran to stop enriching uranium to high levels, which it believes could lead to building a nuclear bomb. Iran says its program is peaceful and is willing to accept some limits in exchange for lifting sanctions—if there are strong guarantees that the U.S. won’t back out again.

Since 2019, Iran has gone beyond the limits set by the 2015 agreement, enriching uranium at higher levels and in larger quantities. It refuses to dismantle its enrichment program or discuss its missile capabilities.

Russia, also a party to the 2015 deal, has offered to help mediate between the U.S. and Iran to support the peace process.