In the historic city of Rome, the fifth round of negotiations between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s swiftly advancing nuclear program has witnessed ‘some but not conclusive progress,’ as articulated by Oman’s intermediary, Badr al-Busaidi. His remarks hinted at the continuation of these intricate discussions.
However, standing in the way of progress is Washington’s insistence that Iran halt its uranium enrichment completely, a demand Tehran categorically labels a ‘red line.’ Iran maintains steadfastly that its program must proceed uninterrupted.
Al-Busaidi expressed on X, ‘Today marked the conclusion of the fifth round of Iran-US talks in Rome, yielding some but not definitive advancements. We remain optimistic about resolving outstanding issues in the days ahead, paving a path towards achieving a sustainable and dignified agreement.’
Following the discussions, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Iranian state television that al-Busaidi has offered proposals to relay to the capitals of both nations ‘without binding commitments for either side.’
‘These negotiations are complex beyond the scope of two or three meetings,’ he noted. ‘Yet, I am optimistic that with the next one or two rounds — especially now that there is a deeper understanding of the Islamic Republic’s positions — we can uncover solutions to propel the talks forward.’
The US delegation included Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department’s policy planning director. There was no immediate response from them following the talks, although it was noted by the Iranian delegation that Witkoff departed prematurely from the negotiations, which took place at the Omani Embassy.