Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, reaffirmed on Wednesday that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable ahead of a second round of talks with the United States set to take place in Rome this weekend regarding the country’s nuclear program.
The negotiations, which began in Oman last Saturday with the Gulf state acting as a mediator, represent the first direct discussions between the two countries under U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has previously threatened military action if a deal is not reached.
Araqchi’s comments came in response to remarks from U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff, who stated on Tuesday that Iran must “stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment” to secure a deal. “We have heard contradictory statements from Witkoff, but real positions will be made clear at the negotiating table,” Araqchi told Iranian state media in Tehran. He emphasized that while Iran is willing to address concerns about its nuclear activities, “the principle of enrichment is not negotiable.”
Both sides described last weekend’s discussions in Oman as positive and constructive. Western powers have expressed concerns that Iran is refining uranium to levels that could be used for atomic bomb fuel, though Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Iranian media reported on Wednesday that the second round of talks would now take place in Rome on Saturday, although earlier announcements indicated they would continue in Oman. Sources confirmed the venue change to Reuters.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the decision to move the location, likening it to moving a goalpost and warning that it could “jeopardize any beginning.” He described the change as a “professional error.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors Iran’s nuclear sites, confirmed that its director general, Rafael Grossi, had been invited to attend the talks in Rome.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed Italy’s role as a neutral host, stating, “Italy simply wants to be a bridge for peace; we have no ambitions of any kind. Such a delicate negotiation is up to the parties involved and their willingness to achieve a concrete result.”
Araqchi is also scheduled to travel to Russia on Thursday, where he will deliver a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to President Vladimir Putin. Iranian officials have suggested that continuous communication with Russia is vital for both regional and global stability.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source disclosed that the Kremlin declined to comment when asked about a potential Russian role in managing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium as part of a nuclear agreement with the U.S. This follows reports in The Guardian that Iran is likely to reject a U.S. proposal to transfer its enriched uranium to a third country, such as Russia, in exchange for concessions on its nuclear program.