Movement forward: Iran signals progress in nuclear talks with US

Rome, April 20: The second round of talks between the United States and Iran over the latter's nuclear program concluded in Rome on Saturday, with signs of cautious optimism. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that there is "movement forward" and that the two sides have reached an "agreement on some principles."

Saturday's negotiations followed the first round of talks held last week in Oman's capital, Muscat. The US delegation was led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Aragchi. Oman once again played the role of mediator, as reported by CNN.

After four hours of negotiations, Abbas Aragchi commented on the tone of the talks, stating, "I can say that there is movement forward. We've reached a better understanding and agreement on some principles and goals in these Rome negotiations."

The third round of talks will be held next Saturday, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Oman's Foreign Ministry confirmed that the meeting would take place in Muscat, CNN reported.

Aragchi also informed that the talks between technical experts will begin on Wednesday.

The US has been against Iran's nuclear plans, wanting Iran to stop production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb.

On the other side, Iran has doubled down on its right to enrich uranium, but has suggested it is willing to negotiate some compromises in return for sanctions relief to ease the pressure on its hard-hit economy.

According to an Iranian official, the two sides did not communicate directly and sat in separate rooms with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi serving as a mediator, CNN reported

After the first round of talks last week, Steve Witkoff outlined his stance on the ongoing negotiations with Iran and asserted that any final deal with Iran must align with President Trump's vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East.

"A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East -- meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do," Witkoff wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Israel has expressed strong opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

Reader Comments

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Sarah K.

Cautious optimism is better than no optimism at all! 🤞 These talks have been going on for years, but I really hope both sides can find common ground. The people of Iran deserve relief from sanctions, and the world deserves nuclear safety.

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Mike T.

Interesting that they're still not talking directly face-to-face after all this time. The Oman mediators must be earning their keep! But if it gets results, who cares about the format.

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Amir R.

As an Iranian-American, I'm cautiously hopeful but skeptical. The "Trump deal" rhetoric worries me - negotiations should be about mutual interests, not political branding. The focus should be on verifiable limits and sanctions relief.

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Jessica L.

Four hours of talks doesn't seem like much time to make real progress. Hope the technical experts can dive deeper into the details next week. The devil's always in the details with these negotiations!

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Thomas W.

While I support diplomacy, I think the article underplays Israel's legitimate security concerns. Any deal needs strong verification mechanisms - we can't afford another North Korea situation in the Middle East.

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Layla M.

The economic pressure on Iran is clearly working if they're coming back to the table. Smart diplomacy combined with firm sanctions seems to be the right approach. Fingers crossed for peaceful resolution! ✌️

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.