Iran and U.S. Resume Nuclear Talks in Rome Amid High Stakes
Iran and the United States have initiated a second round of indirect nuclear talks in Rome, mediated by Omani officials, as both nations grapple with the challenge of reviving a nuclear accord.
The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, follow a reportedly productive first round in Muscat.
These talks, held on April 19, 2025, at the Omani Embassy in Rome, carry significant implications for Middle East stability and global non-proliferation efforts.
A Fragile Diplomatic Opening
The negotiations mark a rare moment of engagement between two nations estranged since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The 2015 nuclear deal, which curbed Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. and reimposed sanctions.
Since then, Iran has escalated its enrichment activities, producing uranium at 60% purity — close to weapons-grade levels. Araghchi, speaking before the talks, expressed cautious optimism but skepticism about U.S. intentions, adding that a nuclear deal is possible only if unrealistic demands are not made.
Meanwhile, President Trump emphasized his stance on Friday, saying:
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
President Donald Trump.
The U.S. seeks a halt to Iran’s high-level enrichment, while Tehran demands sanctions relief and guarantees against future U.S. withdrawals.
Mediation and Regional Tensions
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi facilitates the talks, shuttling messages between delegations in separate rooms.
Italy, hosting the discussions, has positioned itself as a neutral supporter of diplomacy.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who met Araghchi before the talks, wrote on X, “Rome becomes the capital of peace and dialogue.”
He added, a diplomatic deal “is built patiently, day after day, with dialogue and mutual respect.”
The talks unfold against a backdrop of heightened Middle East tensions, fueled by the Israel-Hamas conflict and U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Israel has not ruled out strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, raising the specter of military escalation.
Iran’s economy, battered by sanctions and a plunging rial, adds urgency to Tehran’s pursuit of a deal. Recent deliveries of Airbus A330-200 aircraft to Iran Air, potentially involving U.S.-sanctioned components, suggest quiet diplomatic maneuvering.
Challenges and Red Lines
Both sides face formidable obstacles. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while not dismissing diplomacy, tempered expectations, saying he was “neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic.”
Tehran insists on retaining its enrichment program and rejects dismantling centrifuges or negotiating its missile capabilities.
The U.S., wary of Iran’s nuclear advances, demands verifiable limits on enrichment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, led by Rafael Mariano Grossi, would play a critical role in monitoring any agreement, as it did in 2015. Grossi’s recent meeting with Tajani underscores the agency’s stake in the outcome.
Russia, a party to the original deal, has offered to mediate and could manage Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile if a deal materializes.
A Narrow Path Forward
The Rome talks represent a critical juncture.
Success could stabilize Iran’s economy and reduce regional tensions, while failure risks military confrontation.
As Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei noted, Iran is committed to diplomacy but approaches the talks “with open eyes, relying also on past experiences.”
Whether Araghchi and Witkoff can navigate their nations’ mutual distrust will determine if this historic opportunity yields a lasting agreement.