Iran and the United States resumed nuclear negotiations in Rome on Friday, with uranium enrichment remaining the core sticking point in a bid to revive diplomacy and ease economic sanctions on Tehran.
The talks, mediated by Oman at its embassy in the Italian capital, mark the fifth round in a tense and high-stakes series of back-channel engagements.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a hard line, demanding that Iran completely halt all uranium enrichment as a precondition for any sanctions relief. Iran, however, has remained defiant. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X early Friday that any deal without enrichment is off the table: “We do NOT have a deal.”
“Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science,” Araghchi added. “Time to decide.”
The American delegation, led by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and State Department policy director Michael Anton, has maintained that enrichment activities must cease entirely, a shift from earlier proposals that allowed enrichment up to 3.67%. This evolving U.S. stance has heightened tensions in already delicate negotiations.
A Deal Under Pressure
The goal of the talks is to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities in return for lifting crushing U.S. sanctions—a path that would provide vital economic relief for the embattled Islamic Republic. However, the issue of uranium enrichment continues to block progress. A new report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency warns that Iran could now produce weapons-grade uranium in less than one week if it chose to, though building a deliverable nuclear weapon would still take months.
One possible compromise under discussion is the creation of a regional uranium consortium—backed by the U.S. and Gulf states—to supply Iran with low-enriched uranium for peaceful energy use. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has so far rejected any proposal that would outsource enrichment, recalling the collapse of a similar fuel-swap offer in 2010.
Military Tensions and Regional Fallout
The negotiations are occurring against the backdrop of mounting regional instability. Israel has openly threatened to strike Iranian nuclear facilities if it perceives a threat, particularly amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Iran has responded with sharp warnings, asserting its right to defend its infrastructure and accusing the U.S. of complicity if an Israeli strike occurs.
On Thursday, Iran staged a public show of resolve, allowing students to form a human chain around the Fordo underground enrichment facility, a fortified site built into a mountain to deter airstrikes.
Domestic and Economic Pressures in Iran
Despite its assertive tone, Iran is under intense domestic and international pressure to reach a deal. The country is grappling with economic instability, driven by U.S. sanctions and internal unrest. Protests over the mandatory hijab, combined with fears of gasoline price hikes, have added to political volatility.
The Iranian rial, which plunged past 1 million per U.S. dollar last month, has slightly recovered as optimism over the negotiations grows. A successful agreement would not only stabilize the currency but also provide Tehran with much-needed leverage amid dwindling regional influence—especially following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, a major setback for Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance.
Meanwhile, Washington has tightened the screws further. The U.S. this week imposed new sanctions targeting sodium perchlorate exports to Iran, a dual-use chemical reportedly shipped via China to the Shahid Rajaei port, the site of a deadly explosion in April that killed dozens during an earlier round of talks.
Outlook Uncertain
Whether the latest round of talks can yield a breakthrough remains uncertain. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce expressed optimism on Thursday: “We believe that we are going to succeed.”
However, as each side digs in over enrichment and with military tensions high, the path to a lasting agreement may still be as volatile as the region itself.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Israel announced on Saturday that it had killed senior Iranian commander Saeed Izadi, head of the Palestine Corps of Iran’s Quds Force, in a targeted strike in Qom. Izadi was accused of supporting Hamas before its October 2023 attack on Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Iran’s nuclear bomb development has been delayed by "at least two to three years" due to the ongoing conflict, while expressing doubt about diplomacy as European leaders push for renewed talks with Tehran in Geneva.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is unlikely to push Israel to end its airstrikes on Iran, calling it “very hard” to make that request while Israel is gaining ground militarily.
A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire and crashed Saturday in southern Brazil, killing eight and injuring at least 13 others, local authorities said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A tornado ripped through a rural area of North Dakota late Friday, killing three people and leaving behind severe damage as storms lashed parts of the upper Midwest.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led interim government has dismissed a recent United Nations report on the country’s security, human rights, and economic situation, calling it inaccurate and misleading.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia handed over 21 bodies in a recent exchange—20 of them were Russian soldiers, and one a foreign mercenary.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and China Eximbank Chairman Chen Huaiyu signed a $500 million loan agreement for the telecom sector on June 21.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov discussed bilateral partnership and regional security on the sidelines of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev met with Gazprombank First Vice President Oleg Melnikov during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to discuss strengthening financial cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held talks on advancing cooperation in decarbonization, renewable energy and modernization of the country’s power infrastructure.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to invite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Armenia for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, scheduled for spring 2026 in Yerevan.
A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire and crashed Saturday in southern Brazil, killing eight and injuring at least 13 others, local authorities said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A tornado ripped through a rural area of North Dakota late Friday, killing three people and leaving behind severe damage as storms lashed parts of the upper Midwest.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led interim government has dismissed a recent United Nations report on the country’s security, human rights, and economic situation, calling it inaccurate and misleading.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia handed over 21 bodies in a recent exchange—20 of them were Russian soldiers, and one a foreign mercenary.
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