Geneva and Oman set to host crucial rounds of US-Iran negotiations

Following cautious progress in Rome on April 19, the next critical phases of the US-Iran nuclear negotiations are set to unfold in Geneva and Oman, where diplomats will seek to overcome deep-rooted mistrust and resolve core technical disputes. 

At the centre of the Rome discussions was Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has pushed for a final agreement within 60 days. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly expressed scepticism over such an ambitious timeline, citing deep mutual distrust and the complexity of technical issues, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Two of the most contentious matters remain unresolved: the fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and guarantees that would shield Tehran from potential future breaches by Washington. Iran insists on retaining its uranium within its borders, while the U.S. has called for its destruction or relocation to a third country, such as Russia.

Another core dispute concerns enforcement mechanisms. Iran has proposed that the U.S. offer financial compensation in the event of a future withdrawal from the deal—similar to Washington’s 2018 exit from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, absent a treaty ratified by the U.S. Congress—considered unlikely due to strong pro-Israeli sentiment—such proposals face legal and political hurdles.

A potential compromise floated in Rome would empower Russia to return any transferred uranium stockpile to Iran should the U.S. breach the agreement. While this mechanism may assuage some Iranian concerns, it would elevate Moscow's role in overseeing compliance and potentially sideline European signatories to the original 2015 deal, namely Germany, France, and the UK.

Sources familiar with the talks noted that confusion had briefly clouded the negotiations prior to Rome, after Witkoff appeared to endorse the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme on social media. In Rome, however, he clarified that these remarks were not indicative of U.S. policy, which helped keep the discussions on track.

By Vugar Khalilov