Tehran says next round of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are held in Oman after Roman officials are named

Iran’s talks with the U.S. on Tehran’s rapidly moving nuclear plan appears ready to leave the Middle East on Monday, as Italian sources and others say the next round of negotiations will be held in Rome. However, Iran insisted earlier on Tuesday that they were held in Oman again.

It is not clear where the negotiations will take place after Tehran’s announcement overnight. U.S. officials did not say where the talks would be held. President Donald Trump complained on Monday about the pace of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran as the two countries began new key negotiations.

“I think they’re eavesdropping on us,” he said in the Oval Office at a meeting with the President of El Salvador.
The next meeting will be held in Rome, according to sources in Italy, where he spoke with the Associated Press on anonymity because they have no right to speak publicly. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said the talks would be held there.

“We have received a request from interest from Oman, which plays the role of a mediator, and we have responded positively,” Tayani told reporters during a trip to Osaka, Japan. “In this case, we are ready to welcome the meetings that can bring positive results as always.”

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp spoke at a meeting in Luxembourg and said the upcoming talks will be held in Rome. U.S. and Iranian officials have not confirmed the location changes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly said negotiations in Rome will happen while talking to the Iraqi side on Monday, according to the state-run Iraq News Agency. Then, earlier on Tuesday, the State-owned International Bureau State News Agency said that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the negotiations would return to Oman without elaborating on the reasons. Easter Sunday will be this next weekend, a major holiday in Rome, which revolves around the Vatican City, the home of the Roman Catholic Church. The first round of negotiations on Tehran’s fast-forward nuclear program took place in Oman the past weekend.

The bet on negotiations could not be higher in two countries closed in half a century of hatred. If no deal is reached, Trump has repeatedly threatened to release air strikes against Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials are increasingly warning that they can use uranium to store to near-weapon-level levels in pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Speaking of Iran, Trump said: “I want them to be a wealthy, great country.” But, he said: “These are radical people, they can’t have nuclear weapons.”

Meanwhile, the head of the UN nuclear regulator confirmed separately that he would travel to Iran later this week and could discuss ways to improve its inspectors’ planned visit to Tehran.

The head of the IAEA went to Iran ahead of the talks, which will be visited by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Rafael Mariano Grossi later this week.

The IAEA has played a key role in verifying that Iran complies with its 2015 nuclear deal with the world powers and continues to work in the Islamic Republic, although the country’s theocratic government gradually divested its channels after Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States in 2018.

“Continuous participation and cooperation with the agency is crucial in a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X.

Grossi will arrive in Iran on Wednesday night and will meet with Araghchi and Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

Sanctions relief and enrichment remained the number one issue of the 2015 nuclear deal, with Iran agreeing to significantly reduce its uranium stockpile and only make up to 3.67% of the population rich – enough to make it in Bushel’s nuclear power plants. Today, Iran is 60% rich, a short, technical step at the weapon level, and if they choose to build them, there is enough reserve for multiple nuclear bombs.

The agreement has secured economic sanctions on Iran and has lifted assets worldwide. The collapse of the deal transformed those funds and limited Iran’s ability to sell crude oil abroad – although it still sold to China at a huge discount.

While the United States can provide sanctions relief to Iran’s troubled economy, it is unclear how much Iran is willing to admit. Judging from negotiations since 2018, Iran may demand that uranium enrichment reach at least 20%. However, neither party provided any public statements about what they sought specifically in the negotiations.

“For the fulfillment of the promises, there is absolutely guarantee,” Baghaei said on Monday. “The guarantee issue is especially important given the past history of breach of promises. God will, the negotiating team will continue to keep all these factors and points in mind.”

“As long as sanctions, pressure, threats and intimidation language continues, there will be no direct negotiations.”

However, after Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi mediated about two hours of indirect negotiations, Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff did face to face and face to face.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that he met with Vidokoff and that his envoys “had a good meeting in the Middle East.”

“We will make a decision on Iran soon,” Trump said without elaboration.