Iran, US to Hold Nuclear Talks in Rome with Oman's Mediation
The talks come after four previous rounds of negotiations since April 12, the highest-level contact between the two countries since the US abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord, and will be crucial in determining the future of Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of US sanctions.
Iran and the US will engage in their fifth round of indirect talks in Rome on May 23, focusing on Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of US sanctions, as announced by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.
The talks, mediated by Oman, aim to resolve the deadlock over Iran's nuclear energy program. Former Iranian diplomat Hossein Mousavian has emphasized the need for direct talks between the two countries, believing it would be more constructive and could have prevented the current diplomatic stalemate. However, the current format has both sides citing progress but warning of remaining differences.
Iran's nuclear program has been a point of contention, with the country insisting on its right to uranium enrichment as "non-negotiable", while the US considers it a "red line". Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, exceeding the 2015 deal's 3.67% limit but below the 90% needed for a nuclear warhead. The US Secretary of State hopes for an agreement, but Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed skepticism about the negotiations leading to an outcome.
As the fifth round of talks approaches, the international community waits with bated breath for a potential breakthrough in the negotiations. With Oman's mediation, there is a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the longstanding dispute between Iran and the US.