Latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks ends in Rome

Dawn ^ | May 23, 2025 | E-paper

[Aquamarine]

Iranian and US negotiators closed on Friday a fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome with “some but not conclusive progress”, mediator Oman said, after a public disagreement over Tehran’s uranium enrichment.

The talks, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the foes since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Since returning to office, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, backing talks but warning of military action if diplomacy fails.

“The fifth round of Iran-US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress,” Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X, adding that he hoped “the remaining issues” would be clarified in the coming days.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei had earlier said that chief US negotiator Steve Witkoff had left the talks “due to his flight schedule”. The fourth round of talks, in the Omani capital Muscat, ended with a public spat over enrichment.

Witkoff said Washington “could not authorise even one per cent” enrichment — a position Tehran called a red line, citing its rights under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

[Fai Mao]

At this point, given the tech is 90 years old, I’m not sure preventing nations with money from acquiring nukes is possible. If they want them bad enough they can make them.

[Huskrrrr]

When it’s time to shoot, shoot.

[Apparatchik]

Time’s up. Let the bombings begin.

[mass55th]

All roads lead to Rome.

[nuke_road_warrior]

The Mullah’s in Qom will never willingly give up enrichment, nor their quest for nuclear weapons. Also need to look into heavy water production and chemical processing to extract plutonium. Uranium enrichment is not the only path to nuclear weapons.