ROME, Italy — The United States and Iran are set to meet for a fifth round of nuclear talks this Friday in Rome, aiming to break the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Leading the U.S. delegation is Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who will engage in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Since the negotiations began on April 12, the two sides have held four rounds of indirect talks without significant breakthroughs.
The primary sticking point remains uranium enrichment. U.S. officials have demanded that Iran fully cease enrichment activities, a stance Iran has firmly rejected, calling the issue “non-negotiable.”
Shifting Attitudes in the Negotiations
The initial talks, which started in Muscat, Oman, were broad in scope but have since delved into technical details. Economic experts joined by the third round, signaling a deeper dive into the complexities of sanctions and nuclear capabilities.
On May 15, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism, stating, “We’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace,” suggesting that an agreement was within reach.
However, the situation took a turn when Witkoff declared on May 18 that any deal must include Iran halting all uranium enrichment. “We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment, and we cannot allow Iran to have even 1 percent of an enrichment capability,” he told ABC News.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded strongly, dismissing the U.S. demands as “nonsensical.” He asserted, “Iran has its independent policy and method and pursues its own agenda,” emphasizing that the nation does not await “permission from anyone.”
Rising Tensions and Decreasing Trust
As the fifth round approaches, mutual trust between the U.S. and Iran has eroded further. Analysts suggest that the U.S. hardline stance on enrichment breaks Iran’s bottom line, increasing the likelihood of confrontation.
“If neither side is willing to back down from their current positions, the chances of the talks producing anything valuable are slim,” said Niu Xinchun, executive director at the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University.
There are also reports that Israel might consider military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if negotiations fail, heightening regional tensions.
The Struggle Over Enrichment Rights
Experts note that Iran’s key demand is to retain the right to low-level uranium enrichment for civilian purposes. “The U.S. shift to a ‘zero enrichment’ policy will close the diplomatic window for negotiations,” warned Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
Witkoff’s gamble that pressure will force Iran to stop enrichment is seen as high-risk. “Iran has never accepted a complete halt to enrichment,” Parsi noted.
Diverging Agendas Complicate Talks
The scope of the negotiations is another point of contention. The United States seeks to include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional activities, while Iran insists the talks should focus solely on its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
“Introducing multiple negotiating goals makes it increasingly difficult to reach a consensus,” said Zhao Beiping, deputy director at the Middle East Research Center of Shandong Normal University.
With both nations locked in a standoff over who should concede first, and a deep lack of strategic mutual trust, the path forward remains uncertain.
