The fifth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will commence in Rome on Friday, May 23, as confirmed by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
Mediated by Oman, the negotiations mark the highest-level engagement since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under former President Donald Trump.
The talks aim to forge a new agreement to restrict Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, but skepticism looms large .
Iran’s Unwavering Stance on Uranium Enrichment
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has openly doubted the talks’ prospects, declaring, “We do not think it will lead to any outcome” and dismissing U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment as “nonsense”. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and refuses to abandon enrichment, which it frames as a sovereign right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a “non-negotiable” red line. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that enrichment “will continue—with or without an agreement”.
U.S. Demands and Internal Pressures
The U.S. negotiating team, led by envoy Steve Witkoff, maintains that any deal must include Iran ceasing all uranium enrichment—a stance Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautiously termed a “red line” while expressing hope for an agreement. However, inconsistencies in U.S. messaging, including Trump’s threats of military action and shifting public-private statements, have fueled mistrust. Iranian officials accuse Washington of “bullying” and imposing “unrealistic” demands, such as zero enrichment, which they argue aims to undermine Iran’s scientific and medical advancements.
Regional and Global Implications
Western nations, including the U.S. and EU members, have signaled readiness to trigger “snapback” UN sanctions if diplomacy fails—a mechanism that would reinstate pre-JCPOA economic restrictions and further isolate Iran. Meanwhile, regional tensions are heightened by Israel’s threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and Trump’s warnings of military action.