Next US-Iran nuclear talks expected in Rome this weekend

The fifth round of US-Iranian talks to resolve the crisis over Tehran's nuclear program may take place in Rome from May 24 to 25.

“Hearing next Iran talks set for this weekend in Rome,” said Laurence Norman, a correspondent for the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), on his X page, per Caliber.Az.

On May 11, the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States was held in the Omani capital, Muscat, with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing them as “difficult but useful”. After about three hours of negotiations, spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the talks as “difficult but useful talks to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences”.

These indirect negotiations, mediated primarily through European and regional intermediaries, have been part of broader efforts to prevent further escalation after the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) unravelled. The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump, reimposing sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran progressively scaled back its commitments under the deal.

Recent talks have been facilitated largely by Oman and Qatar, two Gulf states that maintain close ties with both Washington and Tehran. While no formal breakthrough has been announced, sources close to the negotiations suggest that the sides are exploring interim arrangements, such as limiting uranium enrichment levels and enhancing international monitoring, in exchange for limited sanctions relief or unfreezing of Iranian assets.

By Khagan Isayev