US, Iran to Hold Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
The United States and Iran are preparing for a fifth round of high-stakes negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, amid mounting tensions and sharp rhetoric from both sides, A Jazeera reports.
Talks are scheduled for Friday in Rome between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s special envoy for the Middle East.
The negotiations, brokered by Oman, aim to forge a new agreement that would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while easing crippling international sanctions. However, the path forward remains fraught with challenges, as recent public statements from both Washington and Tehran signal hardened positions.
Iran has been enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity — significantly higher than the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but still below the 90 percent threshold needed for weapons-grade material. U.S. officials, including Witkoff, insist that Iran must cease all enrichment activities — a demand Tehran has categorically rejected.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the U.S. stance as “excessive and outrageous,” casting doubt on the likelihood of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned new U.S. sanctions announced Thursday targeting the Iranian construction sector, labeling them “vicious, illegal, and inhumane.”
In a social media post Friday morning, Araghchi outlined Iran’s position: “Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide…”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged earlier this week that while Washington seeks a deal allowing Iran a peaceful nuclear energy program, securing such an agreement “will not be easy.”
The stakes of the Rome meeting are considerable. The Trump administration, now in its second term, is determined to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities and prevent a potential arms race in the region. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sweeping sanctions, reigniting hostilities with Tehran.
Since then, Iran has steadily expanded its nuclear activities in defiance, claiming its program is for civilian purposes. Yet it also demands sanctions relief, particularly to revive its battered economy and resume vital oil exports, including to China.
Tensions spiked further following Israeli media reports suggesting potential military action against Iran’s nuclear sites. Araghchi warned Thursday that if such an attack occurs, “Washington will bear full legal responsibility.”
President Trump has previously hinted at military options should diplomacy fail. Israel, a staunch critic of both Iran and the renewed U.S. negotiations, continues to assert that it will act unilaterally if necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
