The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi. (Credit: AFP.)
Iran and the United States are meeting this Friday in Rome for a fifth round of discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue, under Omani mediation, at a time when negotiations are stalling over the question of uranium enrichment.
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Tehran and Washington, long-standing adversaries, began talks on April 12 regarding the Iranian nuclear program, marking their most significant engagement since the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement under the Trump administration.
The U.S. president at the time, Donald Trump, had reimposed severe sanctions on Iran, hoping now for a new agreement with Tehran, which seeks the lifting of sanctions that are undermining its economy. Divergences over uranium enrichment remain a major obstacle.
Steve Witkoff, the American envoy, expressed the United States' strict opposition to any Iranian enrichment capability.
“Fundamental Disagreements”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that any enrichment capability would make Iran a potential nuclear threat.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran's chief diplomat, confirmed fundamental disagreements, stating that no agreement is possible if Iran is prevented from enriching uranium.
Iran asserts that failing to comply with the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it adheres, is a non-negotiable red line.
Western powers and Israel, the only official nuclear power in the region, suspect Iran of aiming for the nuclear bomb, which Tehran vehemently denies.
Nuclear enrichment is crucial for Iranian energy and the medical sector, according to Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization.
Recent discussions include exchanges between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Iranian threat.
“Toward a Solution?”
Trump believes the talks are progressing, despite Israeli skepticism and possible threats of Israeli strikes, as reported by CNN.
Iran warns against any U.S. responsibility in the event of an Israeli attack, as the country enriches uranium to 60%, exceeding the limits of the 2015 agreement.
These talks will take place before an IAEA board meeting in Vienna, determining whether Iran is complying with its 2015 commitments.
France, along with Germany and the United Kingdom, remains ready to react if European security is threatened by Iran's nuclear program.