Scoop: Iran nuclear talks expected to continue Saturday in Rome
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
ran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Photo: Handout via Getty Images
A second round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran is expected to take place in Rome on Saturday, two sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration was satisfied with the first round of talks in Oman, which went according to plan and achieved their objective of shifting the format from indirect — handled through intermediaries — to direct, with officials conversing directly.
- The Trump administration wants that to be the format in Rome, a venue switch suggested by the U.S. side.
Behind the scenes: The two lead negotiators, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, spoke for around 45 minutes on Saturday — longer than was revealed publicly, a source with knowledge told Axios.
- The source described that conversation, the highest-level dialogue between U.S. and Iranian officials in eight years, as "substantive, serious and excellent."
Yes, but: The talks clearly started with a sense of distrust. The Iranians raised the fact that President Trump withdrew from the previous Iran deal and expressed concern that the U.S. could walk away again, the two sources say.
- The U.S. side raised its own doubts about Iran's intentions regarding its nuclear program.
- But officials on both sides have said they see a path forward after several hours of talks on Saturday. However, the Iranians have downplayed the idea that the next round of talks would be in a direct format.
- Witkoff met Sunday with Trump and briefed him on the talks, a source with knowledge said.
Friction point: The U.S. now wants to see Iran take steps in the near future to move its nuclear program further from weaponization.
- One of the sources said one such step could be "downblending" Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade 60% enriched Uranium, which could be enough for six nuclear bombs.
- The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the Iranian goal is the removal of sanctions.
Zoom in: While the second round of talks won't be in Oman, Omani mediators are going to be present. But this time the negotiations could take place with Iranian and U.S. officials sitting in the same room.
State of play: In addition to his meeting with Trump, Witkoff briefed Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on the talks, according to an Israeli official. Israel is highly skeptical that the talks will lead to a deal, and has been pushing the White House to align on a military option if they fail.
- Witkoff also spoke to several officials from Gulf states who expressed support for the talks with Iranians, the source with knowledge said.
- Araghchi spoke to his counterparts from Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt and briefed them on the talks.
What to watch: The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is expected to visit Tehran this week ahead of the second round of talks, a source with knowledge of the issue said.
- Grossi is expected to discuss the IAEA monitoring and verification activities in Iran's nuclear facilities.
