Iran, US agree to resume talks next week as dialogue gains momentum

The Carnegie Endowment’s decision to name Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as the keynote speaker at its upcoming Nuclear Policy Conference on Monday has stirred controversy in Washington, DC.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush criticized the move, saying that American think tanks should not “normalize officials from a regime which has plotted to kill President Trump and other Americans.”

Mark Wallace, the CEO of the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, also condemned the Carnegie Endowment, saying, "It's a disgrace for him to be hosted, even virtually, to provide a platform for him to engage in a malign influence operation in Washington."

"Carnegie should rescind the invitation."

At a point during the negotiations in Rome, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face, a US official confirmed to reporters, according to the Associated Press.

The two chief negotiators had previously encountered each other following the first round of talks in Muscat in the presence of the Omani foreign minister.

At the time, Iranian officials said the face-to-face interaction in Oman was very brief, describing it as merely an exchange of greetings. However, Axios reported that the two sides spoke for 45 minutes.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly emphasized in recent weeks that the talks must remain indirect, rejecting the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States.

The United States and Iran "made very good progress in their direct and indirect discussions and agreed to meet again next week," Reuters reported citing a Trump administration official regarding the second round of Iran-US talks in Rome.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he remains firmly committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, warning that without Israel’s past actions, Tehran would already be nuclear-armed.

“I am committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. I am not giving up on that, I am not letting go of it, and I am not backing away from it. Not even by a millimeter,” Netanyahu said in a public address Saturday.

He defended his record on Iran’s nuclear program, saying critics of his approach had opposed operations that delayed Iran’s progress. “Without those actions, Iran would already have had a nuclear weapon ten years ago,” he said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday it was made clear during the second round of talks with the United States in Rome that many in Iran no longer view the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, as sufficient, and he agrees with that.

“We made clear how many in Iran believe that the JCPOA is no longer good enough for us,” Araghchi wrote on X.

The JCPOA was a multilateral agreement signed between Iran and six world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump.

“To them, what is left from that deal are ‘lessons learned.’ Personally, I tend to agree,” he added.

Araghchi described the atmosphere in Rome as “relatively positive” and said it enabled progress on the principles and objectives of a possible deal.

"For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution," he said.

Israel has the capability to carry out a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and must be prepared to act if diplomacy fails, opposition leader and former defense minister Benny Gantz said in an interview aired Saturday on Israel’s Channel 12.

“I think Israel can strike in Iran,” Gantz said, adding that “there is a convergence of necessity and opportunity.”

He said Israel has developed its military capabilities over many years and that recent regional and operational developments make a potential strike more feasible. “An operational situation has developed that allows this strike more easily than in other places,” he said. “I think we should prepare this strike.”

Gantz said that while cooperation with the United States would be preferable, Israel must be ready to act independently if necessary. “It is possible to act in coordination with the Americans. It is preferable to act in cooperation with them... but we must be prepared for a strike.”

Gantz added that he supports a diplomatic agreement if it prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and includes unrestricted monitoring. “If there is a good agreement that rolls Iran back... then they should present the evidence,” he said. “But we must prepare the strike.”

Following the second round of Tehran's talks with the United States, Iran's currency rial rallied to 824,000 per dollar on Saturday, marking its lowest rate since Donald Trump returned to office in January.

The currency had previously peaked at 1,058,000 on April 8, amid heightened tensions and uncertainty.

Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has warned against reaching what he called a “fake deal” with Iran, arguing that any agreement must go beyond nuclear enrichment limits and lead to the complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear and regional capabilities.

In an article published by The Free Press, Pompeo set out three conditions for an agreement with Iran.

First, he said Iran must “fully and verifiably dismantle all uranium enrichment sites and destroy all equipment and components connected to enrichment activities,” including allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency unannounced, permanent access to any site.

Second, Iran would need to end all support for its regional allied groups and “turn over to the United States the senior leadership of al-Qaeda, which lives comfortably in Iran.”

Third, Pompeo said Iran should dismantle external operations of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and stop threatening Israel.

He also wrote that if no agreement is possible, military action remains a viable alternative. “President Trump has made clear that there is another option in the event there is no deal to be made: a military attack on Iran,” Pompeo wrote.

"Such an attack could set back the Iranian nuclear program for a significant period," he added.

Pompeo rejected the framing that the US faces only two choices — war or a deal. “This is propaganda,” he wrote.

"It is a false choice propagated by those who would prefer to coddle the regime in Tehran and cut a deal that will ensure that Iran obtains a full-on nuclear weapons program over time," he added.

Israel supports the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program based on the Libyan model, but other options remain open if diplomacy fails, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman was quoted as saying in an interview with Channel 12’s Meet the Press on Saturday.

“If that’s accepted, it would be welcome,” Omer Dostri said. “War is not the goal; it’s a means.”​

Dostri said that Netanyahu remains committed to stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “If this can be achieved through time-bound tough diplomatic efforts and sanctions that lead to that outcome, then that is what will happen,” he said. “If not, there are other ways.”

“For over a decade, the prime minister has led efforts that have, in practice, prevented a nuclear Iran. They still have not acquired a nuclear weapon, and Israel will not allow them to achieve it,” he added.

There is a new possibility in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, but it will not be easy, Director General of the UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi said in an interview with Italy's national broadcaster RAI on Saturday.

"Italy plays an important and growing role," Grossi said as the second round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington took place in Rome.

Israel's foreign minister says his country would accept an agreement between Tehran and Washington that would block Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon even though he believes the Islamic Republic would not comply with its obligations.

"Israel is committed to the objective of preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. If that objective can be achieved by a diplomatic path, it is accepted," The Telegraph reported citing Gideon Saar.

Saar at the same time warned that Tehran cannot be trusted. “Iran always mocked its international obligations."

He said he does not exclude the option that "they will try to get some partial agreements, to avoid getting to the necessary solution," apparently referring to Donald Trump's threats to attack Iran if nuclear talks fail.

"We are speaking directly with the Americans. We’re also speaking with European friends. I think we all have the same objective. Iran is in a position of relative weakness, and this should be used to achieve the objective, and not to let Iran escape for the sake of convenience, to waste time until the circumstances change," Saar was quoted as saying.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to deliver a virtual keynote address at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference on Monday, in what observers say signal Tehran's intent to engage directly with the US policy community amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States.​

Longtime US foreign policy journalist Laura Rozen highlighted the significance of Araghchi's upcoming address, saying on X, "It would seem a sign of Iran interest in trying to speak to US elite policy audience at time when tentative engagement underway with the Trump admin."​

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met Rafael Grossi, the UN nuclear watchdog's director general in Rome on Saturday morning before the second round of nuclear talks with Iran, the Wall Street Journal and Axios reported citing sources.

Asked about the presence of Grossi in Rome, Iran's Foreign Minister told reporters, "Talks do not require IAEA Director General's presence now, but exchanging expert views including with Grossi can be helpful."

"His awareness of the process is positive; IAEA will have an important role later," the Iranian top diplomat added.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi said nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are gaining momentum, following the second round of Muscat-mediated negotiations in Rome on Saturday.

"I would like to thank Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Presidential Envoy Mr Steve Witkoff for their highly constructive approach to the talks today,” al-Busaidi wrote on X. “These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible.”

Iran and the United States "have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy,” a spokesman at Oman's foreign ministry said in statement posted on X.

“It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the next round of talks will take place in Muscat in the coming days.

The latest round of talks with the United States in Rome was productive, and technical negotiations are set to resume in Oman later this week, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters on Saturday.

"“It was a good meeting; the negotiations are progressing,” Araghchi said adding that talks on Saturday lasted roughly four hours.

"We managed to reach a better understanding on a number of principles and goals," he added.

He added that technical talks at the expert level will be held in Oman starting Wednesday this week.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman also described the second round of talks as constructive.

“There were useful indirect talks today between Iran and the United States conducted by Oman Foreign Minister in a constructive atmosphere,” Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X.

"The two sides agreed to continue the indirect talks in few days at technical level to be followed by another round at their own level on coming Saturday," he added.

Iran’s state TV said the second round of talks with the United States was constructive.

A third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will take place next week, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, shortly after the country's state broadcaster announced the conclusion of the second round of negotiations in Rome.

The second round of talks between Iran and the United States in Rome has concluded, Iran's state broadcaster announced.

Live footage from the venue shows the US delegation has left the compound where the talks were being held.

Iranian negotiators have no plans to meet with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi during Saturday's nuclear negotiations with the United States in Rome, and he is not present at the talks, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Saturday, citing a source close to the Iranian delegation.

“Grossi was in Tehran last week and held extensive discussions with relevant Iranian officials,” ISNA quoted the source as saying.

"No meeting between Grossi and the Iranian delegation in Rome is scheduled.”

The report added that only representatives from Iran, the United States, and Oman are present at the venue in Rome, adding that no other parties are involved in the current round of negotiations.

As nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States entered their second round in Rome on Saturday, Iran's top officials convened in Tehran for a joint meeting, bringing together the heads of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, according to state media.

The meeting was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

Rome’s selection as a venue for nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States signals a bid by Italy to position itself as a diplomatic bridge in international crises, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Saturday.

“It recognizes a role that Italy has built up—anchored to historic alliances but open to dialogue with all,” Crosetto said during a visit in Taranto.

He added that Italy can serve as a venue “to build peace, to build security, to help create the conditions—even in parts of the world that feel closer than we realize—for ending conflict, ending war, and, in some way, ending terrorism.”

Israel is the only obstacle to establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying in a meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani on Saturday morning.

Israel is known for possessing dozens of nuclear weapons, although it has never declared itself a nuclear power.

Araghchi, who is in Rome for the second round of talks between Iran and the United States, added that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that the country rejects weapons of mass destruction based on its religious, national, and defensive principles.

"Israel is driving Iranophobia and instability in the Middle East," ISNA semi-official news outlet quoted Araghchi as saying.

It added that Araghchi called on Europe and the international community to adopt a responsible stance free from such stereotypes against Iran.

Iran plans to propose a series of terms for a new nuclear pact, including guarantees from the Trump administration that the United States will not withdraw from any future agreement, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Iran also plans to discuss how its current stockpile of enriched uranium could be managed under a deal, the process for lifting economic sanctions, and its hopes of arranging a high-level visit to Washington, according to Iranian and Arab officials cited by WSJ.

The report added that a spokesman for US envoy Steve Witkoff declined to comment on Iran’s demands but said, “The President has been clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or enrichment program.”

“As we continue to talk, we expect to refine a framework and timetable for working towards a deal that achieves the President’s objectives peacefully,” the spokesman added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday is expected to propose a framework Tehran hopes would ensure the US doesn’t withdraw from a future nuclear pact, the report said citing European and Iranian officials and another person familiar with the Iranian position.

According to these sources, as part of those guarantees, Iran wants the US to cover Tehran’s losses if Washington was to pull out of a deal, the report added.

The nuclear talks between Iran and the United States at the Omani diplomatic mission in Rome may continue into Sunday, Beirut-based outlet affiliated with Iran-backed Hezbollah, Al Mayadeen reported.

The report added that the US side has yet to clarify its position on key issues related to Iran’s nuclear program.

Oman has long served as a discreet and trusted intermediary between Tehran and Washington. Its role dates back to the early 2010s, when Muscat hosted secret backchannel talks that ultimately led to the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).

The United States also sees Oman as a discreet and stable mediator with a history of hosting secret talks with Tehran.

Continue reading the analysis here.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that indirect nuclear talks with the United States were underway in Rome, with both sides seated in separate rooms and Oman’s foreign minister as the mediator.

“The indirect negotiations between Iran and the US began at the Omani ambassador’s residence, with the Omani foreign minister present,” Baghaei said.

He added that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met earlier with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani. “We expressed our appreciation to Italy, and the Italian side thanked Iran for the opportunity given to Italy,” Baghaei said.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Saturday he met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome, praising Italy’s growing diplomatic role at a “critical moment” for peace efforts.

“I welcome Italy’s constructive and increasingly relevant role in support of peace at a critical moment when diplomacy is much needed,” Grossi wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held talks with Tajani, shortly before heading to US-Iran indirect nuclear negotiations now underway at the Omani embassy in Rome.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said will visit Moscow on Monday, the Omani state news agency reported, as Muscat-mediated nuclear talks between Iran and the United States got underway in Rome on Saturday.

The visit will focus on bilateral cooperation and discussions on regional and international issues, the agency said, without offering further details.

The second round of US-Iran nuclear talks has started at the residence of the Omani ambassador in Rome, according to Axios.

The US delegation has arrived at the Omani embassy in Rome, the venue for indirect talks with Iran, Iranian media reported.

The second round of nuclear negotiations in Rome may face a challenge, an Iranian political commentator close the Reformist camp said, adding that tensions in the talks are likely but do not signal a collapse.

“Any serious disruption will not be publicly acknowledged by the negotiating teams, but it will quickly leak and influence currency, gold prices, and Iran’s political atmosphere,” Ahmad Zeidabadi wrote in a Telegram post on Saturday.

He argued that fluctuations are part of the nature of sensitive negotiations. “Positive news does not mean final success, and negative news does not mean failure,” he said. “The alternative to continued negotiations is extremely risky, with consequences that are unimaginable.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi in Rome on Saturday ahead of the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, Iranian media reported.

Iranian state television reported Saturday that indirect nuclear talks with the United States had not yet begun, as only one delegation had entered the venue. It said the American team had not yet arrived at the Omani embassy in Rome, where the meeting is set to take place.

The Iranian delegation has arrived at the Embassy of Oman in Rome, where the indirect talks are set to take place.

Iran’s deployment of advanced enrichment machines adds complexity to ongoing nuclear talks.

Read how this escalation is altering negotiation dynamics and testing the resolve of international stakeholders here.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Saturday, shortly before heading to the venue of indirect talks with the United States in Rome. The two officials discussed bilateral ties and international developments, Iranian media reported.

“The only obstacle to achieving a Middle East free of nuclear weapons is Israel,” Araghchi was quoted as saying during the meeting, according to state media.

Iran’s Guardian Council spokesman Hadi Tahan Nazif declined to say how the oversight body would assess any potential agreement with the United States, as indirect nuclear talks resume in Rome on Saturday.

“Let’s first see where the negotiations lead. They’ve only just begun,” he told reporters in Tehran when asked whether the Council would review a future deal.

The Guardian Council, which is tasked with vetting legislation passed by parliament, previously approved the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Shortly before the meeting, Iranian media confirmed that the indirect talks between Iran and the United States would take place at a diplomatic building belonging to the Sultanate of Oman in Rome.

Iranian state TV aired footage of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departing for a meeting with his Italian counterpart at the Foreign Ministry in Rome on Saturday.

The report confirmed that the second round of Iran-US nuclear talks is scheduled to begin at 11am local time.

A member of Iran’s Expediency Council said US President Donald Trump’s approach to nuclear talks reflects a deeper concern for Israel’s security rather than that of the United States.

“The real worry for Trump is not a threat to Washington, but a threat to Tel Aviv,” said Mohammad Sadr in an interview published Saturday on IRNA.

Sadr argued that Trump’s negotiating behavior is shaped more by personal and psychological factors than traditional diplomacy. “This is not classical diplomacy — it’s Trump-style diplomacy that centers around ego and image,” he said.

He added that if Trump limits his demands to banning nuclear weapons, a deal may be possible, but bringing Israeli priorities like zero enrichment or curbing Iran’s regional presence to the table would block any agreement.

Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Tehran’s delegation arrived in Rome with full authority to pursue a comprehensive agreement based on nine principles, including seriousness, guarantees, balance, sanctions relief, and a rejection of the Libya model.

In a post on X, Shamkhani added that Iran is seeking a “balanced deal, not surrender,” and also listed urgency, avoiding threats, curbing disruptive actors such as Israel, and enabling investment as key goals.

Read more here.

Iran’s delegation is using Saturday’s nuclear talks in Rome to assess whether the United States is genuinely committed to diplomacy, amid what it sees as mixed signals from Washington, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported.

Tasnim said some of the demands voiced by US officials were “unrealistic and unachievable,” and warned that raising previously rejected proposals amounts to “repeating failed approaches.”

Recent comments from US officials have alternated between calls to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program entirely and proposals to limit enrichment levels, adding uncertainty about Washington’s current position in the talks.

Iran’s ultra-hardline Kayhan newspaper on Saturday said Tehran should consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the United States crosses Iran’s red lines in ongoing nuclear talks.

“The current nuclear standoff has clearly endangered our vital interests,” wrote Hossein Shariatmadari, Kayhan’s editor and a representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “If that is the case—and it is—why don’t we invoke Article 10 of the NPT and exit?”

The paper said the outcome of Saturday’s negotiations in Rome will be a key test of Washington’s intentions and added that past US statements show the nuclear issue is “only a pretext” to pressure Iran.

Kayhan argued that withdrawal would be legal under the treaty and could remove what it described as an imposed challenge on Iran’s nuclear program.

The NPT allows countries to use nuclear technology for civilian purposes—such as medicine, agriculture, and energy—but prohibits the development or acquisition of nuclear weapons.

The second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran is scheduled to begin at 5am ET (11:00am local time) on Saturday at the Omani embassy in Rome, Axios reported.

The session is expected to last at least five hours.

According to Axios, the United States aims to use this round to establish a framework for the next phase of negotiations.

Tehran’s hardline outlet Farhikhtegan dismissed the second round of negotiations with the United States as futile, citing the absence of tangible economic benefits for Iran and a lack of US commitment to easing sanctions.

“The current US administration does not appear willing to agree to any deal that would result in economic benefits for Tehran,” the paper wrote on Saturday, adding that recent signals from Washington made no mention of easing sanctions or addressing European threats to trigger the snapback mechanism.

Farhikhtegan called for a pivot toward regional diplomacy centered on Riyadh, suggesting that Saudi mediation—especially during an expected visit by President Donald Trump next month—offers a more viable route to influencing Washington.

“What we're after through negotiations with Trump’s America is already within reach through bilateral engagement with regional powers,” the paper said, adding that “the road to Rome passes through Riyadh.”

An Iranian lawmaker said talks between Iran and the United States are likely to continue, noting that US President Donald Trump trusts his chief envoy despite political pressure at home.

Fadahossein Maleki, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told local media that Trump “is under pressure from some hardliners,” but his negotiator, Steve Witkoff, “is trusted by him.”

Maleki said Iran was satisfied with the format and agenda of the first round of talks held in Muscat earlier this month, and that the second round in Rome will focus exclusively on nuclear issues.

“I am optimistic,” Maleki said, adding that the discussions are expected to define a framework for possible future negotiations.

Israel is considering a limited strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months, even as President Donald Trump has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US is not ready to support such a move, Reuters reported, citing multiple sources.

“We have intelligence from reliable sources that Israel is planning a major attack on Iran’s nuclear sites,” a senior Iranian security official told Reuters. “This stems from dissatisfaction with ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and also from Netanyahu’s need for conflict as a means of political survival.”

Israeli sources told Reuters that a scaled-down operation requiring less US assistance is now being weighed. “No decision has been made yet,” a senior Israeli official said.

Earlier this month, Trump told Netanyahu that Washington wanted to focus on talks. “I’m not in a rush,” he said Thursday. “If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran.”

The report said Israel has asked Washington to help defend against any Iranian retaliation in the event of a strike.

Major gaps in international knowledge of Iran’s nuclear material and infrastructure could undermine any new agreement between Tehran and Washington, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing diplomats and nuclear experts.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost “continuity of knowledge” regarding key parts of Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of centrifuges and components, according to the report. Iran has restricted monitoring since 2021 and stopped sharing footage from surveillance cameras at sensitive sites.

“Implementing a new deal without having a clear inventory of what nuclear material and infrastructure Iran currently has would be extremely risky,” the report said.

“Without that baseline, it is next to impossible to ensure that Iran is complying with detailed limits on its nuclear enrichment under a deal.”

Rebuilding a full picture of Iran’s nuclear assets could take up to six months, diplomats told the Journal, a timeline that complicates efforts to meet the two-month deadline reportedly set by the Trump administration for securing a deal.

A senior Iranian official said on Saturday that Iran is committed to diplomacy but approaches the latest round of talks with the United States cautiously, citing past experience.

“We are aware that it is not a smooth path, but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X ahead of the talks in Rome.

He added that Iran has “always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues, in full respect of the high interests of the Iranian nation.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Rome on Saturday to lead his country’s delegation in the second round of nuclear talks with the United States, Iranian media reported.

The talks, mediated by Oman, are set to begin later in the day.

The first round was held on April 12 in Muscat.

Like the previous round, the negotiations will be conducted indirectly through written and oral exchanges, according to state media.

Accompanying Araghchi are senior Iranian officials including Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, legal affairs chief Kazem Gharibabadi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, and senior adviser Behzad Saberi.

Iranian officials have said the talks are strictly focused on nuclear issues and will not include discussions on regional matters, defense capabilities, or dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.