Oman says 5th round of Iran-US nuclear talks to take place in Rome

ISTANBUL

The fifth round of Iran-US talks over Tehran's nuclear program will take place in Rome on Friday, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced in a brief statement on Wednesday evening.

Iran and the US resumed nuclear diplomacy last month, with Oman acting as mediator.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the next round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States will take place in Rome on Friday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced that the fifth round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington will take place on Friday, bringing an end to days of speculation and rumors.

Baghaei noted that Oman, acting as a mediator between the two sides, pitched a proposal to which Tehran has agreed.

He emphasized that the Iranian negotiating team remains firmly committed to defending "the rights and interests of the Iranian people, particularly in securing the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment," and the lifting of what he termed “unjust sanctions.”

President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018, and has now sought a “better" deal. He says the US will not allow Iran to have a nuclear bomb.

The most recent round of talks was held in the Omani capital, Muscat, on May 11.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that he does not believe the ongoing negotiations will lead to "any meaningful outcome."

Khamenei also dismissed recent demands by US officials for Iran to dismantle its uranium enrichment program, calling the remarks “nonsense.”

Uranium enrichment has become a main sticking point in the ongoing negotiations. On Sunday, Araghchi stressed that Iran’s enrichment program will continue "with or without a deal."

His comments came shortly after Witkoff said any agreement with Iran must include a provision to halt enrichment entirely.