Rome:
The US and Iran on Saturday concluded a second spherical of high-stakes talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, agreeing to satisfy once more in per week’s time, the Iranian international ministry stated.

The Oman-mediated talks in Rome lasted about 4 hours, in accordance with Iranian state tv, which described the ambiance as “constructive”.

“The 2 sides agreed to renew oblique talks at a technical stage over the following few days and subsequently proceed on the stage of two senior negotiators subsequent Saturday,” April 26, Iran’s international ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated on X.

Iran later added that the third spherical of talks would happen in Oman, returning to the location of the preliminary dialogue per week in the past.

These have been the primary discussions at such a excessive stage between the foes since US President Donald Trump deserted a landmark nuclear accord in 2018.

Western nations together with the USA have lengthy accused Iran of looking for to amass nuclear weapons — an allegation Tehran has constantly denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceable civilian functions.

Photos broadcast by the state TV confirmed International Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving within the Italian capital, with US Center East envoy Steve Witkoff additionally anticipated to take part.

Araghchi later described the discussions as a “good assembly” that yielded progress.

“This time we managed to achieve a greater understanding on a sequence of ideas and objectives,” he instructed state TV.

He additionally instructed the Tasnim information company that the nuclear problem was the one matter raised.

Baqaei stated the delegations had been “in two totally different rooms” on the Omani ambassador’s residence, with Oman’s International Minister Badr Albusaidi passing messages between them.

Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Following his return to workplace in January, Trump revived his “most stress” marketing campaign of sanctions towards Iran.

In March he despatched a letter to Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed nuclear talks whereas additionally warning of army motion if diplomacy failed.

“I am not in a rush” to make use of the army possibility, Trump stated Thursday. “I feel Iran needs to speak.”

On Friday, Araghchi stated Iran “noticed a level of seriousness” on the US facet through the first spherical however questioned their “intentions and motivations”.

In a social media submit early Saturday, Baqaei stated Tehran was cleareyed in regards to the talks, whereas “relying additionally on the previous experiences”.

The chief of mediator Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, is due in Moscow within the coming days, in accordance with his workplace and the Kremlin, which stated he would focus on with President Vladimir Putin “present questions on the worldwide and regional agenda” and different points.

– ‘Essential stage’ –

In an interview printed on Wednesday by French newspaper Le Monde, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi stated Iran was “not far” from possessing a nuclear bomb.

Throughout Trump’s first time period, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers that supplied Iran aid from worldwide sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Tehran complied with the settlement for a yr after Trump’s withdrawal earlier than scaling again its compliance.

Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His US counterpart, Witkoff, is an actual property magnate Trump has additionally tasked with talks on Ukraine.

Iran presently enriches uranium as much as 60 %, far above the three.67 restrict within the deal however nonetheless under the 90 % threshold required for weapons-grade materials.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European nations to determine on whether or not to set off the “snapback” mechanism beneath the 2015 settlement, which might mechanically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance.

The choice to set off the mechanism expires in October this yr.

Iran has beforehand warned it might withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism have been triggered.

Grossi, who met Iranian officers in Tehran this week, stated the US and Iran have been “at a really essential stage” within the talks and “haven’t got a lot time” to safe a deal.

– ‘Non-negotiable’ –

Iranian officers have insisted that the talks focus solely on its nuclear programme and lifting of sanctions.

Araghchi stated a take care of the US was “seemingly” if Washington shunned “making unreasonable and unrealistic calls for”, with out elaborating.

Analysts had stated the USA would push to incorporate discussions over Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its assist for militants within the Center East.

Araghchi stated Iran’s proper to counterpoint uranium was “non-negotiable”, after Witkoff known as for its full halt. Witkoff had beforehand demanded solely that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal.

On Friday US ally Israel affirmed its dedication to stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, saying it had a “clear plan of action” to forestall this.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)