US-Iran nuclear talks show progress amid tightening deadline, sources say Interim Deal Considered

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told White House envoy Steve Witkoff during discussions on April 19 that reaching a final agreement within President Trump's proposed two-month timeframe may not be feasible.

According to two sources familiar with the discussions, Araghchi raised the idea of an interim deal, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

However, Iran's Mission to the United Nations swiftly denied the claim, asserting that "This is simply neither true nor accurate."

The urgency of the talks stems from Trump’s aggressive stance, having set a two-month deadline for finalising a deal. The U.S. has already begun positioning military forces in the Middle East, preparing for a potential military response should diplomacy fail. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of ordering a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities or supporting an Israeli military action if the negotiations fall through.

Behind closed doors, Araghchi expressed concerns about the complexity of a comprehensive deal, especially given the technical nature of nuclear agreements. "It would be very difficult to complete the negotiations within 60 days," he told Witkoff. Despite this, Witkoff, who is determined to secure a comprehensive deal, resisted the idea of an interim agreement for now, focusing instead on meeting the 60-day deadline. Should both parties determine more time is necessary, Witkoff suggested they could revisit the option of an interim deal.

The discussions took place in Rome, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi acting as a mediator, and included direct talks between Araghchi and Witkoff. According to sources, the two sides made “very good progress” during the talks.

On April 23, Araghchi also spoke in Beijing, stating that Iran and the U.S. had reached a better understanding of the principles of a possible deal, with "a chance for making progress." Oman’s Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, noting that both parties agreed to enter the next phase of negotiations, working towards a “fair, enduring and binding deal” that ensures Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful, while lifting sanctions.

Looking ahead, negotiators from both sides are set to meet again in Oman for technical talks this Saturday. This will mark the first time the U.S. will discuss specific limitations on Iran’s nuclear program, particularly regarding uranium enrichment. Michael Anton, the State Department’s policy planning chief, will lead the U.S. team.

In a separate development, U.S. officials confirmed that Witkoff met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Raphael Grossi in Washington on Wednesday, their second meeting in less than a week. Grossi, who visited Tehran last week, expressed optimism about Iran’s willingness to reach a deal, urging Witkoff and Araghchi to continue direct discussions. "The talks are serious... we are in a crucial moment," Grossi said.

Meanwhile, an IAEA technical team is expected to travel to Tehran soon to discuss reinstalling monitoring equipment, including cameras, at Iran’s nuclear facilities. Although not officially linked to the ongoing negotiations, Grossi suggested that the discussions could influence Iran's willingness to allow IAEA monitoring.

Despite the progress, scepticism remains. Senator Marco Rubio, a hawkish figure within the Trump administration, told Bari Weiss that the U.S. is still "a long ways away" from any agreement with Iran. Rubio acknowledged that while President Trump remains committed to pursuing a deal, military action remains a possibility if diplomatic efforts fail. The senator stressed that any military strike would be more complicated than it would have been five to ten years ago due to Iran’s enhanced nuclear and military capabilities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev