A diplomat told Shafaq News: The Rome nuclear talks pave the way for direct meetings hosted by Vienna.
A diplomat told Shafaq News: The Rome nuclear talks pave the way for direct meetings hosted by Vienna.
2025-04-19 04:50
Shafaq News/ A diplomatic source familiar with the US-Iran nuclear talks said on Saturday that today’s meeting, being held in the Italian capital, Rome, may be the last in this track of indirect negotiations, expecting “positive results” for both sides .
The source, who spoke to Shafaq News Agency on condition of anonymity, added that the two sides will then move to direct talks without a mediator, adding that the next round is likely to be held in Vienna if the two sides reach good understandings in today’s meeting .
He explained that potential progress could pave the way for the return of US commercial shipping traffic in the sea lanes to its normal levels prior to the Israeli – US strikes in Gaza and Yemen .
The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, heads the American team. The two sides are communicating through mediators from the Sultanate of Oman, after Muscat hosted the first round a week ago, which was described at the time as “constructive .”
In 2018, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and major powers, reimposed crippling sanctions, and has since reactivated the “maximum pressure” policy since returning to the White House last January .
Washington is demanding a halt to the production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is intended to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran, while emphasizing the peaceful nature of its program, has expressed a willingness to accept limited restrictions in exchange for lifting sanctions. However, it is demanding strict guarantees to prevent a new American retreat, as occurred in 2018 .
Since 2019, Iran has exceeded the previous agreement’s restrictions on enrichment and uranium stockpiles, raising Western concerns .
Despite both sides’ insistence on adhering to the diplomatic path, wide gaps remain in a file that is more than two decades old. Similar to the Muscat round, no direct meeting will take place in Rome, while Russia, a party to the 2015 agreement, has offered to “assist, mediate, or play any role that serves the interests” of both parties .
shafaq.com
