US and Iran Prepare for Key Nuclear Talks in Rome
ROME — Negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s accelerating nuclear program are set to take place for the fifth time in Rome. Central to these discussions is the contentious issue of uranium enrichment.
U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have made it clear that any deal lifting sanctions on Iran’s struggling economy must involve stopping uranium enrichment entirely. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasized that without enrichment, "we do NOT have a deal."
Mobile communications have been lively, with Araghchi stating online, “Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science. Time to decide.”
The U.S. delegation will again include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the policy planning director at the State Department. While the exact venue for the talks hasn’t been confirmed, previous discussions were held at the Omani Embassy in Italy. Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, is mediating the negotiations, a role that underscores Oman’s trusted relationship with both Washington and Tehran.
Enrichment at the Heart of Negotiations
The purpose of these talks is to restrict Iran’s nuclear ambitions while considering the potential lifting of severe economic sanctions that the U.S. has placed on the nation over decades of hostility.
President Trump has not shied away from threatening military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if an agreement is not reached. On the other side, Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at pursuing nuclear weapons capability, given their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
A report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has indicated that while Iran isn’t currently producing nuclear weapons, it has taken steps that would allow it to do so swiftly, possibly in less than a week when it comes to creating enough weapons-grade uranium.
Despite these alarming developments, experts agree it would still likely take Iran months to construct an actual nuclear bomb. As the negotiations continue, the central issue remains the enrichment of uranium. At one point, Witkoff suggested that Iran could enrich uranium up to 3.67%, but that stance has shifted toward a complete halt of enrichment by Iran.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce expressed optimism about the negotiations, affirming, “We believe that we are going to succeed” in pushing for zero enrichment. "The Iranians are at that table, so they also understand what our position is," she noted.
A potential compromise discussed is a consortium in the Middle East, supported by other regional countries and the U.S., which would provide Iran with low-enriched uranium for peaceful use. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has been firm that enrichment must continue within its borders, rejecting previous proposals for a fuel swap.
Rising Tensions Amid Ongoing Pressure
In the backdrop of these talks, Israel remains on high alert and has threatened preemptive strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Araghchi has warned that Iran would take "special measures" to protect its nuclear sites if Israel proceeds with military actions, indicating that the U.S. would share responsibility for any attacks.
Despite the stern rhetoric, Iran has a strong incentive to reach an agreement. The internal situation in Iran is tense, particularly surrounding the ongoing protests over mandatory dress codes for women, alongside concern about rising gasoline prices. The Iranian rial has seen significant devaluation, hitting over 1 million to the dollar, though it has shown some signs of stabilization with the ongoing negotiations.
The Middle East remains volatile, with Iran’s regional alliances weakened amidst Israeli attacks on its allies during the recent conflict with Hamas. The Trump administration continues to impose sanctions, including recent actions against specified sales to Iran, such as sodium perchlorate.
As these critical talks unfold, the stakes are high, not just for Iran, but also for regional stability and global security.
