Bloomberg: US, Iran plan to hold next round of nuclear talks in Rome
14 April 2025 23:37
The United States and Iran may hold a second round of nuclear talks on Saturday in Rome.
Bloomberg reports this, citing its own sources, "Komersant Ukrainian".
The talks are expected to coincide with the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to Italy, but it is not known whether he will participate in them.
The delegations, led by US Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, agreed to meet in the Omani capital of Muscat in a week’s time to ease tensions after months of escalating rhetoric and Trump’s threats to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a deal.
Both Iran and the United States called Saturday’s meeting in the Omani capital constructive.
Vitkoff told Araghchi that he had been instructed by Trump to “resolve the differences between the two nations through dialogue and diplomacy, if possible.”
In response to the parties’ statements about further talks, Iran’s currency and stocks rose on Sunday.
Trump has made it a priority to curb Iran’s nuclear program and ensure that the Islamic Republic never develops nuclear weapons, something Tehran has always maintained it is not going to do.
The US leader has tightened sanctions against Iran, including its oil industry, as part of his “maximum pressure” strategy.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that his administration was working with Israel on possible attack scenarios in case diplomacy failed. This included sending additional US bombers to the US base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean.
Trump has said he is optimistic that diplomacy can prevail, although he does not want the talks to drag on for more than a few months. Vance is one of the most controversial members of the White House on military action against Iran and said in October that a war with the Islamic Republic would be “extremely expensive” and a “major diversion of resources.”
Italy has long been a mediator in the Middle East and has maintained good relations with Iran, Israel and Arab countries, as well as the United States. Last year, it hosted a meeting of officials from Egypt, Israel, Qatar and the United States to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.
