A planned fourth round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for this Saturday in Rome, has been postponed, with a new date contingent on Washington’s approach, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday.
The official expressed concern that ongoing U.S. sanctions during the nuclear negotiations were hindering efforts to resolve the dispute. “U.S. sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks are not helping the sides to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy,” the official stated, adding that the next round’s timing would depend on the U.S.’s stance.
The delay was also confirmed by Oman, which has mediated previous rounds of talks, citing logistical reasons for the rescheduling of the talks initially set for May 3.
The discussions have been focused on a potential deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, tensions have escalated, with Iran accusing the U.S. of “contradictory behavior and provocative statements,” especially following Washington’s imposition of new oil-related sanctions and warnings over Iran’s support for the Houthis in Yemen.
Washington has also warned Tehran of consequences over its backing of the Houthis, who control northern Yemen and have been involved in attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. has conducted extensive bombing campaigns against the group, while Tehran maintains that the Houthis act independently.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the U.S. approach, accusing American decision-makers of lacking sincerity and disrupting the diplomatic process. “The responsibility for the consequences and destructive effects of the contradictory behavior and provocative statements of American officials regarding Iran will lie with the American side,” he said.
The U.S. withdrew from the previous nuclear deal in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, leading to heightened tensions between the two countries. Despite the setbacks, both sides have described earlier rounds of negotiations as productive.