The US and Iranian delegations are holding their second round of high stakes nuclear talks today.
Officials from both countries met in Oman last weekend for consultations via the Gulf Arab state. The round was held in Rome, and Oman again served as a mediator between the US teams – led by envoy Steve Witkov – and the Iranians led by Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut.
How we got here: In 2015, we reached a nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s great powers, including the United States. Under the contract, Iran had agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.
Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 during his first presidential term. Iran has retaliated by resuming nuclear activities, and so far has been pushing for a uranium enrichment programme of up to 60% purity, close to the weapons grade level, about 90%.
Back in the White House, Trump gave Tehran a two-month deadline to reach a new agreement.
What the US says: Trump vowed to trade “stronger” than his original attack in 2015, threatening to bomb Iran if there was no agreement with the US.
Since reporting that the initial talks last weekend were “constructive,” Trump administration officials have vibrated this week between a reconciliatory approach and a demand for more Hawkish to completely dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
What Iran says: This week, Iran doubled the right to enrich uranium, accusing the Trump administration of sending mixed signals.
Iranian media reported that Tehran set strict terms ahead of talks with the US, saying the “red line” includes “blackmail language” and “overreaching demands on Iran’s nuclear programme.”