Tehran requires the end of US sanctions and guarantees to resume nuclear agreement; Washington wants ending enrichment and limits to the atomic program
Iran and the United States have held a new round of nuclear negotiations in Rome on Saturday (19), in another attempt to resolve the impasse of decades on the Iranian atomic program. The dialogue occurs under the threat of US President Donald Trump to resort to military force if diplomacy failed.
The Iranian Chancellor, Araqchi Abbas, and Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will lead the conversations indirectly, with Oman’s mediation. The meeting takes place a week after the first round in mascate, described on both sides as productive.
Araqchi is already in Rome to participate in this second phase, according to his channel on Telegram. Speaking in Moscow on Friday, the minister said Iran believes in a possible deal about their nuclear program, since the US adopts “realistic stance.”
Tehran, however, tries to contain expectations about a quick outcome after rumors that sanctions could be suspended soon. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said this week he was “neither optimistic nor pessimistic” as to the process.
On the American side, Trump told journalists on Friday: “I am in favor of preventing Iran, simply from having a nuclear gun. They can’t have a nuclear gun. I want Iran to be big, prosperous and fantastic.”
The US president, who withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reinstated heavy sanctions against Iran, resumed his “maximum pressure” policy over Tehran since resumed the White House in January.
Washington requires Iran to interrupt highly enriched uranium production suspected of being used for military purposes.
The Iranian government, which has always defended the peaceful character of its nuclear program, says it is open to discuss limitations in exchange for the end of sanctions. However, it requires guarantees that the US will not abandon the agreement again, as occurred in 2018.
Since 2019, Iran has been violating the terms of the 2015 agreement, accumulating enriched uranium stocks at levels far above that considered acceptable for civil purposes.
An anonymous Iranian officer listed the country’s “red lines”: not dismantling centrifuges, not totally paralyzing enrichment and not reducing stocks below 2015 levels. Iran also refuses to negotiate over its missile program.
Despite the diplomatic discourse, the differences between the parts remain deep in this dispute that has lasted more than 20 years.
Witkoff and Araqchi had a brief contact at the end of the first round, but there are no direct negotiations since 2015. This time, the conversations will continue to be mediated by Oman.
Russia, signatory to the 2015 agreement, offered to “assist, mediate and play any role” that facilitates understanding between Iran and the USA.
With information from news agencies*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/04/20/conversas-nucleares-entre-eua-e-ira-reabrem-feridas-de-decadas/
