U.S. officials made “very good” progress during the second round of nuclear talks with Iran in Rome and plan to meet with their Tehran’s counterparts next week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff held both direct and indirect discussions during the meeting that lasted more than four hours, according to a U.S. official.
“We agreed to meet again next week and are grateful to our Omani partners for facilitating these talks and to our Italian partners for hosting us today,” a senior U.S. administration official said.
Araghchi said after the meeting that progress on “principles and objectives” of a potential deal was made and that technical-level discussions will start in the “coming day.”
“We made clear how many in Iran believe that the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are ‘lessons learned’. Personally, I tend to agree. The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details,” Araghchi said in a Saturday statement on the social media platform X.
“After that, we will be in a better position to judge,” Iran’s foreign minister added. “For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.”
Witkoff and Araghchi are slated to meet again next Saturday.
Saturday’s huddle signaled that progress had been made as Trump pushes for a new deal with Iran, as Tehran has accelerated its nuclear development program. Trump has said previously that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has indicated that if the diplomatic route is unfruitful, military action against the country could follow.
Oman said the two sides are set to enter the next phase of the nuclear talks to forge an agreement that would guarantee that Iran does not have nuclear weapons or remain under the constraint of sanctions.
Araghchi and Witkoff, through the mediation of Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi “have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.”
“It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally,” a spokesperson for Oman’s foreign ministry said in a Saturday statement. “It is also agreed that the next round will take place in Muscat in the next few days.”
The second round of talks between the two sides took place at the Omani ambassador's residence and started around 11:30 a.m. local time, a U.S. official told The Hill on Saturday.
“I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death — and I’d like to see that, that’s my first option,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote Saturday in a post on X that the Islamic Republic has “always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues, in full respect of the high interests of the Iranian nation.”
“We are aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences,” Baghaei added.
Prior to talks with Iran on Saturday, Witkoff met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi in Rome, a diplomatic source told The Hill.
The talks in Italy come a week after the first round of discussions took place in Oman. Both sides described the talks as “constructive.” Witkoff also spoke with Araghchi face-to-face toward the end of the meeting.
Trump pulled out of the Obama-negotiated nuclear agreement in 2018.
Current U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized that if a new deal with Tehran is reached, Iran must get rid of their nuclear arsenal.
“The President’s made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday while in Paris. “That is not going to happen.”
“We’re hoping that talks continue and that they’re fruitful and that they’re — that they can lead to something,” he added. “We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one.”
Updated at 5:14 p.m. EDT
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