Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, announced late Friday that the fifth round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. has concluded in Rome. He reported ‘some but not conclusive progress’ and expressed optimism about clarifying the remaining issues in the coming days. Yet, an agreement has not been reached, and both Iranian and American officials have refrained from immediate comment on the situation.
The focus of these negotiations is Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, with the key issue being uranium enrichment. U.S. officials, President Donald Trump included, have been adamant that Iran must cease uranium enrichment under any agreement that could lift sanctions on Tehran’s struggling economy. Conversely, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that without enrichment, there can be no deal.
We should note that the U.S. delegation in the talks was headed by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department’s policy planning director. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi played a crucial role in mediating the negotiations, given Oman’s long-standing position as a trusted interlocutor by both Tehran and Washington.
These talks aim to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions. However, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency reported that Iran is better positioned to produce nuclear weapons if it chooses to do so, despite currently not producing any. The agency also disclosed that Iran could potentially produce weapons-grade uranium for a first nuclear device in less than a week.
Both sides of this issue present compelling arguments. American officials insist on a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment. On the other hand, Iran’s Foreign Ministry maintains that enrichment must carry on within its borders. This disagreement over uranium enrichment continues to be a significant sticking point in the negotiations.
As negotiations continue, Iran’s internal politics are under strain, with its rial currency plunging and persistent rumors of a potential increase in the cost of subsidized gasoline. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to impose new sanctions on Iran, further complicating the situation.
As of now, the Iran-US negotiations have made some progress, but a deal remains elusive. The coming days are crucial as both parties aim to resolve the remaining issues.
