Tehran updates Moscow on nuclear talks ahead of Rome summit

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has shared detailed updates with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, regarding Tehran’s ongoing dialogue with the United States over its nuclear program.

“We discussed in detail the nuclear issue and the negotiations between Iran and the US. I informed Mr Lavrov about their content,” Araghchi stated following the diplomatic meeting, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

He emphasized the historical role Russia has played in the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement that was partially dismantled after the US withdrew under the Trump administration in 2018. Araghchi voiced optimism that Moscow would continue its constructive engagement in future negotiations.

“Mr Lavrov assured that the work will continue,” Araghchi added, signaling renewed coordination between Tehran and Moscow ahead of critical diplomatic developments.

The meeting comes on the eve of the second round of direct US-Iran nuclear negotiations, scheduled for April 19 in Rome. The talks are aimed at resolving longstanding disputes surrounding Iran's nuclear activities and exploring the potential for sanctions relief.

According to sources familiar with the agenda, Washington and Tehran are expected to revisit the core elements of a nuclear settlement, including uranium enrichment levels, international inspections, and phased sanctions removal. However, prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain.

While Iran has recently indicated conditional openness to reducing uranium enrichment levels, deep skepticism persists in Tehran over US reliability. Iranian officials continue to cite President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 as a breach of trust that complicates current negotiations.

Despite these tensions, the dialogue in Rome is seen by many observers as a tentative but meaningful step toward de-escalation. The outcome of the discussions could determine the trajectory of nuclear diplomacy in the Middle East and broader US-Iran relations moving forward.

Further details of the evolving negotiations are expected to emerge following the conclusion of the Rome summit.

By Vafa Guliyeva