United States and Iran resume nuclear talks in Rome amid high tensions

Second round of U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations to begin in Rome with uranium enrichment and sanctions relief at the core of the discussion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference in Moscow on April 18, 2025. Photo by Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The United States and Iran nuclear talks are entering a pivotal second round this Saturday in Rome, following what both countries described as a "constructive" initial meeting in Oman last week. This high-stakes dialogue, mediated by Oman, marks the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the landmark 2015 nuclear accord.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in the Italian capital, aiming to build on indirect discussions held earlier in Muscat. These resumed efforts reflect a complicated geopolitical climate, shaped by years of mutual distrust, economic sanctions, and concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

A history of broken trust

Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic ties since the Islamic revolution of 1979. Decades of enmity reached a critical turning point when the Trump administration exited the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), claiming it failed to permanently curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

In the years following that decision, the United States reimposed strict economic sanctions on Iran as part of a renewed "maximum pressure" campaign. Trump’s return to the presidency in January reignited these tactics, with the current talks representing a renewed push toward diplomacy — albeit under the looming shadow of military threats.

In March, Trump sent a direct message to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to return to the negotiating table, while warning that the U.S. would not shy away from force should talks collapse.

"I'm not in a rush to use the military option," Trump said on Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."

Constructive beginnings, cautious skepticism

Iran’s chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi acknowledged a sense of seriousness from the U.S. side during the first round of talks but remained skeptical of their intentions. Speaking in Moscow on Friday, he warned, "Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case, we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations."

Observers say that while the first round was a diplomatic thaw, the second round is expected to dive into more sensitive issues, including uranium enrichment levels and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, which Iran insists must be the sole focus.

Concerns of nuclear weaponization

The 2015 JCPOA had capped Iran’s uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent, a level suitable for civilian energy use. However, Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent — a figure still below the 90 percent threshold needed for weapons-grade material but significantly higher than the agreement’s limits.

On Wednesday, Rafael Grossi, chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog (IAEA), told Le Monde that Iran is "not far" from having enough material for a nuclear weapon, adding urgency to the United States and Iran nuclear talks.

The situation has raised alarms among European countries, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pressed allies to consider invoking the "snapback" mechanism embedded in the 2015 deal. If triggered, this would automatically reinstate United Nations sanctions on Iran — a move Tehran has warned would force it to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether.

Regional stakes and strategic calculations

The talks also come at a time when Iran's broader influence in the Middle East remains a flashpoint. Analysts believe that Washington is eager to widen the scope of negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for proxy groups across the region — issues that Tehran considers off-limits.

Iran has made clear that its right to enrich uranium is "non-negotiable". Araghchi reiterated this stance on Friday, following comments from Witkoff calling for a complete halt to Iran’s enrichment activities. Previously, the U.S. had only insisted Iran return to JCPOA limits.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Tuesday underscored that the country’s military capabilities are not up for discussion. According to state-run IRNA, Tehran’s "red lines" include both its regional military posture and its missile technology.

U.S. ally Israel has remained a vocal opponent of any accommodation with Iran and insists it will take all necessary measures to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. On Friday, Israeli officials reaffirmed a "clear course of action" to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions, adding further pressure to the ongoing United States and Iran nuclear talks.

Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has publicly cautioned citizens against placing too much hope in the negotiations. "The talks may or may not yield results," he said earlier this week, reflecting domestic skepticism and political caution.

A narrowing window for diplomacy

As the talks resume in Rome, there is a growing sense among diplomats that time is running out to reach a viable agreement. The expiration of the "snapback" mechanism option in October has added urgency to an already complex diplomatic landscape.

IAEA’s Grossi warned earlier this week that both parties are now at a "very crucial stage" and "don’t have much time" to reach consensus. With uranium enrichment levels climbing and military rhetoric intensifying, the stakes are arguably higher now than at any point since the JCPOA was signed nearly a decade ago.

While both Iran and the U.S. are returning to the table, their goals remain vastly different. Iran seeks full sanctions relief and a guarantee that the U.S. will not abandon any future agreement, while Washington is likely to demand broader concessions that go beyond the nuclear file.

Whether a diplomatic breakthrough can be achieved remains uncertain, but the decision to resume negotiations itself marks a rare window of opportunity. For now, the world watches closely as the United States and Iran nuclear talks in Rome unfold — a fragile attempt to bridge one of the most entrenched divides in modern international relations.