US, Iran report progress in nuclear talks, shuttle diplomacy
New Delhi, Apr 20: Iran and the United States have reported “constructive” progress in their latest round of indirect nuclear negotiations, with both sides confirming a third round of talks set for April 26 in Oman.
The discussions mark the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations in years, as they attempt to revive dialogue long stalled by mistrust and geopolitical tension. After four hours of talks held separately at Oman’s embassy in Rome, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, senior negotiators from both countries expressed cautious optimism. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading Tehran’s delegation, described the discussions as being conducted in a “constructive atmosphere” with a “better understanding on certain principles and goals.”
“We’re not at the finish line, but we are making measurable progress,” Araghchi told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency as reported by the international media. A senior US official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, echoed this sentiment, describing the Rome talks as showing “very good progress,” though Washington has yet to release an official readout.
The US delegation is led by Steve Witkoff, a Trump confidant and real estate executive, who has played an unconventional but increasingly visible role in recent diplomatic efforts.
The US and Iranian delegations remained in separate rooms during the meeting, a reflection of their lack of formal diplomatic relations since 1980. Messages were relayed through Oman’s envoy in what analysts describe as classic “shuttle diplomacy.” Despite the procedural distance, the tone marks a shift from the previous week’s meetings in Muscat, where Iranian officials had expressed deep scepticism about Washington’s intentions. The talks are part of an effort to find common ground nearly seven years after President Donald Trump in his first term withdrew the US from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement that imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The Trump administration instead pursued a “maximum pressure” campaign, reimposing heavy sanctions and prompting Iran to gradually breach its commitments under the deal. Upon returning to office in January, Trump surprised observers by signalling openness to renewed talks. In March, he sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing diplomatic engagement, albeit laced with a stern warning of “military consequences” if negotiations fail. “I’m not in a rush to use force,” Trump said last week. “I think Iran wants to talk,” reports BBC.
At the heart of the renewed negotiations lies a fundamental disagreement: whether Iran should be allowed to maintain a civilian nuclear program, which it insists is its sovereign right, or whether as hawks in Washington demand Iran must dismantle its nuclear infrastructure entirely. Newspaper reports suggests that they haven’t touched on the technical specifics of the nuclear programme yet. Adding urgency to the talks, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said last week that Iran is “not far” from being capable of producing a nuclear weapon—a statement that has alarmed Western governments. Grossi, who also met with Italian officials in Rome on Saturday, will likely play a central role in monitoring any future deal, just as the IAEA did under the 2015 agreement.
