
Iran says second round of talks with U.S. to focus solely on nuclear issue, lifting sanctions; expected to happen in Rome, says reports
The Hindu
Iran and U.S. to hold indirect nuclear talks with Omani mediation, focusing on lifting sanctions, in Rome.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday (April 13, 2025) that talks with the United States slated for next weekend would remain “indirect” with Omani mediation and be focused solely on the nuclear issue and lifting of sanctions.
The talks are expected to take place on Saturday (April 19, 2025) in Rome, Axios reported on Sunday (April 13, 2025), citing two sources with knowledge of the issue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a first round of talks on Saturday (April 12, 2025) in Muscat, marking the highest-level Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations since the collapse of a 2015 accord.
They agreed to meet again in seven days.
“Negotiations will continue to be indirect. Oman will remain the mediator, but we are discussing the location of future negotiations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with state TV.
He said the talks would only focus on “the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions”, and that Iran “will not have any talks with the American side on any other issue”.
Analysts had said the U.S. would push to include on the agenda discussions over Iran’s ballistic missile programme, along with Tehran’s support for the “axis of resistance” – a network of militant groups opposed to Israel.