Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, and Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy ( File photos ).
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East minister Steve Witkoff meet face-to-face for discussions mediated by Oman, and the next round of high-stakes nuclear conversations between Iran and the United States has actually begun in Rome. The debate, which are taking place over Easter weekend, represent a rare instance of diplomatic cooperation between the two long-standing opponents.
According to Iranian state television, Araghchi and Witkoff arrived in Rome early on Saturday ( local time ), while Witkoff and Araghchi arrived in Rome after meetings in Paris that focused on the Ukraine conflict. Badr al-Busaidi, the ambassador to Morocco last week’s first round of negotiations in Muscat, is now acting as a mediator.
The speaks aim to find common ground over Tehran’s rapidly expanding nuclear programme, which has caused serious issue for both Washington and its allies. The outcome was influence whether diplomacy prevails or whether a possible military conflict arises in the area.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, said on Friday,” Iran should not have access to radioactive weapons.” However, I want Iran to become fantastic, rich, and fantastic.
Iranian leaders have also expressed a cautious enthusiasm. On social media platform X, foreign ministry official Esmail Baghaei stated,” We take every action with open eyes, relying even on past experience.
These discussions come as Middle East conflicts soared as a result of the continuous Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza and subsequent US airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which resulted in over 70 casualties. Failure could lead to escalations, including probable military action or Iran’s further expansion of its nuclear enrichment beyond the disturbing 60 % beauty levels, which is a brief technological transition from weapons-grade materials.
Araghchi’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow suggests that Russia, a signatory to the initial 2015 nuclear agreement, does play a significant role in any possible agreement, maybe even by removing Iran’s enriched uranium, as the Associated Press reported.
In Iran, financial forces are still abound. Local unrest and protests over possible fuel price increases and continuing unrest involving the mandatory hijab law highlight domestic instability. Iran’s currency has been boosted by the talks, and the current supply of two Airbus A330-200 plane to Iran Air suggests that, dependent on sanctions relief, there may be renewed hopes for global trade.
The goal of the Rome talks could have an impact on Iran’s nuclear potential as well as its wider geographical protection and diplomatic ties with the West.
