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 Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has travelled to Rome to take part in the fifth round of indirect nuclear talks with the US, mediated by Oman.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make urgent visits to Iran, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye next week to hold high-level talks and express gratitude for recent support.
Iran has issued a sharp warning to Israel and the United States, threatening to take unspecified "special measures" to defend its nuclear facilities if threatened, just ahead of a new round of nuclear talks in Rome.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of “significant consequences” if Europe pushes for reimposing UN nuclear sanctions, stressing it would end E3 participation in the 2015 deal, following an unproductive meeting in Istanbul.
At Computex 2025 in Taipei, standout innovations included Acer's affordable smart ring, Asus's gamer-centric split keyboard, and MSI's AMD-powered Claw A8 handheld gaming device.
Emergency crews were called to the Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate in England's East Midlands region.
Afghanistan is stepping up calls for international climate support as NEPA chief Mawlawi Matiulhaq Khalis leads talks on rising food insecurity and water shortages, warning of severe environmental threats including Kabul’s looming groundwater crisis.
Oil prices fell for the first time in three weeks, with expectations mounting that OPEC+ will raise production in July, Bloomberg reported.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, each returning 270 military personnel and 120 civilians to the other side, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
In a region long defined by conflict and complex history, AnewZ set out to hear the voices that matter most- those of the people.
Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.- Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed on Wednesday night by a lone gunman as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, close to the White House.
Afghanistan is stepping up calls for international climate support as NEPA chief Mawlawi Matiulhaq Khalis leads talks on rising food insecurity and water shortages, warning of severe environmental threats including Kabul’s looming groundwater crisis.
Syria’s General Directorate of Ports announced Thursday the signing of a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Fidi Contracting Company to develop over 1 million square meters across two key free trade zones, marking a major step in Syria’s bid to attract foreign investment.
The UFC has unveiled the official poster for its upcoming historic event, UFC on ABC 8, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking the promotion’s first-ever trip to the country.
Intense rainfall has triggered deadly landslides in China's southwest, prompting mass rescue operations and raising fresh concerns over climate-related disasters.
At Computex 2025 in Taipei, standout innovations included Acer's affordable smart ring, Asus's gamer-centric split keyboard, and MSI's AMD-powered Claw A8 handheld gaming device.
Emergency crews were called to the Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate in England's East Midlands region.
Afghanistan is stepping up calls for international climate support as NEPA chief Mawlawi Matiulhaq Khalis leads talks on rising food insecurity and water shortages, warning of severe environmental threats including Kabul’s looming groundwater crisis.
Oil prices fell for the first time in three weeks, with expectations mounting that OPEC+ will raise production in July, Bloomberg reported.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a major prisoner exchange, each returning 270 military personnel and 120 civilians to the other side, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment