Iran and the United States will hold the fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome this Friday, officials confirmed Wednesday.
This latest meeting marks the highest-level dialogue since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under former President Donald Trump.
Oman, serving as mediator, announced the talks via its Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on social media.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei affirmed Tehran’s acceptance of the Omani proposal to meet in Italy.
The talks aim to revive an agreement that would limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for easing sanctions.
Western nations, including the US, accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies, insisting its programme is peaceful.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced scepticism about the talks, warning of uncertain outcomes this week.
He called denying Iran’s uranium enrichment rights “a big mistake,” reflecting deep divisions in the negotiation stance.
US lead negotiator Steve Witkoff recently declared uranium enrichment a “red line,” rejecting its continuation in Iran.
Iran has consistently maintained uranium enrichment as “non-negotiable,” signaling firm resistance in the talks.
Currently, Iran enriches uranium up to 60%, exceeding the 2015 deal’s 3.67% limit but below weapons-grade levels.
Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal triggered renewed sanctions and Tehran’s gradual rollback of commitments.
European powers are contemplating activating the UN’s “snapback” sanctions mechanism, which expires in October.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that reimposing sanctions could cause “irreversible” consequences.
As negotiations loom, the fragile dance between diplomacy and distrust continues to shape a high-stakes geopolitical saga.