US-Iran Nuclear Talks Advance: Expert-Level Negotiations to Begin Following Rome Meeting
Iran and the United States have agreed to move forward with expert-level talks after concluding a second round of high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Rome. The four-hour meeting, mediated by Omani officials, marks a significant step in diplomatic efforts to address Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program amid persistent verification challenges and divergent negotiating positions.
Key Developments: Framework for a Nuclear Deal Takes Shape
Saturday's talks in Rome brought together Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for indirect negotiations mediated by Omani officials at the country's embassy. The four-hour discussion concluded with both sides agreeing to advance to more detailed technical discussions Reuters1.
"We were able to make some progress on a number of principles and goals, and ultimately reached a better understanding," Araqchi told Iranian state television following the talks. "It was agreed that negotiations will continue and move into the next phase, in which expert-level meetings will begin on Wednesday in Oman. The experts will have the opportunity to start designing a framework for an agreement" Reuters1.
The Omani mediators released a statement after the talks saying the sides had "agreed to enter into the next phase" of negotiations with the aim of sealing "a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy" Axios2.
This development comes after President Donald Trump, who abandoned the 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and world powers during his first term in 2018, has threatened military action unless Iran reaches a new deal swiftly that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons Reuters1.
Divergent Positions: "Balanced Agreement" vs. Nuclear Elimination
The negotiations face significant challenges as both sides maintain firm positions on key issues. The United States is seeking the elimination of Iran's uranium enrichment program, which U.S. officials identified as their aim ahead of Saturday's meeting Axios2.
"I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific. But they can't have a nuclear weapon. And if they have a nuclear weapon, you'll all be very unhappy because your life will be in great danger," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday Axios2.
Iran, which maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, has established clear red lines. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, laid down Iran's principles for a nuclear deal on Saturday on X. He stressed that any deal must include guarantees the U.S. won't walk away again, as Trump did in 2018, and must include the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran. Most critically, he stated the deal "absolutely will not include the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure" Axios2.
"Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not surrender," Shamkhani concluded Axios2.
A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, listed Iran's red lines as never agreeing to dismantle its uranium enriching centrifuges, halt enrichment altogether, or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below levels agreed in the 2015 deal Reuters1.
International Reactions: Cautious Support Amid Regional Tensions
The talks have garnered significant international attention, with various stakeholders expressing both support and concern.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has offered Italy's assistance, stating they are ready "to facilitate the continuation of the talks even for sessions at the technical level." Tajani emphasized that a diplomatic deal is built on dialogue and mutual respect NPR3.
Israel, which opposed the 2015 agreement with Iran that Trump abandoned in 2018, "has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months," according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter Reuters1. This position adds significant pressure to the negotiations and underscores the regional tensions at play.
Russia's involvement is also noted, with Araqchi having visited Moscow in recent days where he met with officials including Russian President Vladimir Putin NPR3. Analysts suggest Moscow could potentially take custody of Iran's uranium enriched to 60% purity—a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% NPR3.
Expert Insights: Verification Challenges Loom Large
Experts point to significant challenges in verifying Iran's nuclear activities, which will be central to any successful agreement.
"There are critical gaps in the world's understanding of Iran's nuclear inventory," the Wall Street Journal reports. "Tehran in recent years has restricted United Nations atomic agency oversight of its nuclear activities—a key requirement under the 2015 accord, and stifled an agency probe into undeclared nuclear material found in the country" WSJ4.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led by Rafael Mariano Grossi, would likely play a central role in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached. Grossi met with Italian Foreign Minister Tajani on Saturday, highlighting the importance of verification mechanisms in any future agreement NPR3.
Since 2019, Iran has breached and far surpassed the 2015 deal's limits on its uranium enrichment, producing stocks far above what the West says is necessary for a civilian energy program Reuters1. At various points, Iran has removed cameras intended to monitor key parts of its nuclear infrastructure and effectively banned inspectors from those sites WSJ4.
These verification challenges will be a central focus of the expert-level discussions set to begin this week. The technical teams will need to address how to verify Iran's compliance given the significant gaps in international understanding of its nuclear inventory.
Future Implications: Timeline and Potential Outcomes
The negotiations have now entered a structured timeline, with expert-level talks scheduled to begin in Oman on Wednesday, and another high-level meeting between Araqchi and Witkoff set for next Saturday in Oman to "review the experts' work and assess how closely it aligns with the principles of a potential agreement" Reuters1.
The rapid pace of negotiations reflects the urgency expressed by the Trump administration. President Trump has called for Iran to "go fast" to secure a new nuclear accord, but experts caution that for any deal to work, Tehran will have to account for exactly what nuclear program hardware it has produced and stowed away WSJ4.
There is ongoing debate within the Trump administration and between the U.S. and Israel over whether diplomacy or military strikes are more likely to prevent Tehran from obtaining a bomb Axios2. This internal disagreement adds complexity to the U.S. negotiating position and increases pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough.
The potential outcomes range from a comprehensive deal that significantly restricts Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, to a limited agreement that falls short of U.S. aims but averts immediate military confrontation, to a breakdown in talks that could escalate tensions and potentially lead to military action.
Conclusion: Diplomatic Tightrope in a Nuclear Shadow
As expert-level talks prepare to convene in Oman, the path to a nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran remains fraught with technical challenges, verification hurdles, and deep-seated mistrust. The progress made in Rome offers a glimmer of diplomatic hope amid the shadow of potential military confrontation. Will the technical experts be able to bridge the wide gap between Iran's "balanced agreement" and America's nuclear elimination demands, or is this latest diplomatic dance merely delaying an inevitable confrontation?
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading Iran's delegation in the nuclear talks, speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. (AP Photo)
