Next Iran-US talks to be held in Rome followed by E3 meeting
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the fourth round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program will be convened in the Italian capital of Rome on Saturday.
Araqchi told reporters on the sidelines of the Iranian administration’s weekly cabinet meeting in the capital on Wednesday that the next round of indirect talks would be held in Rome “as announced by Oman as the host.”
Iran’s foreign minister said the Rome meeting will be preceded by another meeting on Friday between Tehran and the European troika – the UK, France and Germany – the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He said that the role of the three European countries has diminished due to their flawed policies in the course of the long-stalled negotiations, adding, “But we are not willing for this to happen, and that is why we are ready to hold the next round of negotiations with them in Rome.”
Underlining that Tehran is keen to resolve its peaceful nuclear issue within a “global understanding,” the top diplomat said, “We are continuing our negotiations with Europe, but the main talks are currently underway with the United States … and the International Atomic Energy Agency will have an important role in the future if an agreement is reached.”
Asked about the latest status of Iran’s blocked funds due to Western sanctions, Araghchi said the frozen funds are part of the sanctions that must be lifted.
Pointing to a recent round of US sanctions against Tehran, he said, “This certainly bears a negative signal. When the opposing parties take provocative actions during negotiations, it can call their seriousness into question. Of course, we are aware that there are different viewpoints in the US and various lobbies are active there.”
In response to a question about whether the issue of uranium enrichment below 20 percent has been conveyed to the US administration as a red line for Tehran, the foreign minister said, “Iran’s red lines are completely clear and have also been announced to the American side.”
Asked whether the negotiations have a timeline, Araghchi said, “We have not set a specific timeline, but naturally, we are not at all willing to engage in protracted negotiations and waste time, and of course, we feel that the other side has the same motivation.”
The United States left the JCPOA in 2018, with its European allies in the deal saying at the time that they would convince Washington to return to the accord.
The trio, however, not only failed to do so, but also followed in Washington’s footsteps by returning the sanctions that the JCPOA had lifted and piling up even more coercive economic measures against Tehran.
Mediated by Oman, Iran and the US have held three rounds of talks in Muscat and Rome on April 12, 19 and 26 with the aim of reaching a deal on Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on Tehran.
Both parties have so far expressed satisfaction with way the negotiations proceed, praising the talks as “positive” and “moving forward.”
