Iran and the United States concluded the second round of nuclear negotiations on Saturday afternoon in Rome, Italy. The renewed talks follow President Donald Trump’s announcement during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that direct discussions were scheduled for April 12.
The initial round of negotiations, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, began in Muscat between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, led by Steve Witkoff. Following the brief meeting, both sides described the talks as “constructive”.
“I found the meeting to be constructive and conducted in a calm and respectful environment. No disrespectful language was used,” Araghchi told Iran State Media after the session.
The first round was held indirectly, with the Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs acting as a messenger between the two delegations staying in separate rooms—contrary to earlier claims by President Trump that the negotiations were direct.
Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei opposes direct talks with the United States. Prior to the first round, Araghchi, during a visit to Algeria, emphasized Iran’s openness to indirect talks. “The form of negotiations is not important—whether direct or indirect. What matters is whether they are effective, whether the parties are serious, and whether there is a genuine will to reach a solution,” he said.
Initially, the second round was set to take place in Oman. However, shortly before the negotiations were due, Rome was selected as the meeting ground, and delegates resumed talks in the Omani embassy. Araghchi took off to Moscow the day before the talks were scheduled in Rome to deliver a letter from Iran’s Supreme Leader to President Vladimir Putin. Russia is expected to play a key role in the negotiations, possibly serving as a third party to house Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Tehran has expressed its willingness to return to the 3.67% uranium enrichment level agreed upon under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during the Obama administration—sufficient for nuclear fuel but not weapons-grade material. Iran began increasing enrichment levels to nearly 60% after Trump withdrew from the JCPOA during his first term, approaching near enough purity to build approximately up to 8 nuclear warheads, according to Iran Watch. However, Steve Witkoff, on his official account on social media platform X, opposed any form of entertainment by Iran, saying, “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East – meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also previously demanded a “Libyan Model” deal, meaning total supervised destruction of all nuclear facilities.
When questioned at a press event mourning the Pope’s death about the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani avoided specifics by dodging the question. “Some issues are red lines, and some will be negotiable. But Russia’s role is important to us. We have nuclear cooperation, and Russia will play a key part in these talks. We hope the negotiations proceed on the right path. Our people should not rely on speculation,” she stated. Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s nuclear agency, said, “The withdrawal of enriched uranium from Iran is not on the agenda at all.”
Reactions in Tehran following the first round were mixed, particularly among hardliners who remain opposed to any agreement with Donald Trump, citing the assassination of Qasem Soleimani during his first term presidency. However, a shift in diplomatic tone is becoming increasingly apparent.
During Iran’s Army Day parade—an annual display of military might—President Masoud Pezeshkian notably refrained from criticizing the United States in his address, becoming one of the few Iranian presidents in history to do so. Pezeshkian has previously suggested that Ayatollah Khamenei is showing flexibility, even toward potential American investment in Iran. While the Supreme Leader has consistently rejected direct or indirect talks with the U.S., recent signs point to a softening stance.
Commenting on the latest developments, President Trump said, “A very good dialogue was held with Iran.”
Iran’s markets responded positively to news of ongoing nuclear negotiations. The Tehran Stock Exchange saw a period of steady growth, while the national currency stabilized after authorities effectively halted the daily devaluation trend.
Iran and the United States are scheduled to launch expert-level discussions on Saturday in Oman to establish a framework for a potential nuclear agreement. Originally set for Wednesday, the meetings were rescheduled at the suggestion of the Omani government, according to a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The expert-level talks will coincide with the third round of negotiations between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, set to take place in Muscat.
Written by Mohammad Amin
