TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci emphasizes Iran and the US have made great strides in ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations.
Following his second round talk in Rome on Saturday, he emphasized that both sides have reached a “better understanding” of certain principles and objectives.
The speech, mediated by the Foreign Minister of Omani Bador bin Hamad al-Busaidi, was held in the capital of Muscat, Omani on April 12th and in Rome on April 19th. These discussions aim to solve the longstanding nuclear issue between Iran and the United States, and include engagement from both sides with Iranian religious groups, which are Iranian religious groups that represent the Iranian religion that represents Donna’s religion. West Asia issue.
At the end of his second round speech in Rome, which lasted more than four hours, Aragut expressed his cautious optimism. He said, “It was a good session with moving forward negotiations.”
Araghchi agreed that the delegation will continue to work and confirmed that they will meet again on April 23 at the Omani specialty level.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized the importance of maintaining a cautious approach. “We hope that we will be in a better position to assess the likelihood of reaching an agreement after next week’s expert-level session,” Araguchi added. However, he warned against speculating about the outcome before consultations are over, saying the outcome will be clear once negotiations reach a resolution.
“Speculation and personal interpretations with various agendas are always present in negotiations,” he said. “I don’t check any of them. Once we get the results, we’ll talk about the results for ourselves.”
He also emphasized that the negotiation process should deal with maturity and perseverance. “Negotiations are one of the jobs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is no need for hype or excitement. We continue our work with caution and seriousness,” Araguchi said. “There is no reason for either excessive optimism or pessimism.”
An important point in the discussion during discussion was the potential involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In response to questions regarding the existence of Rome’s IAEA Director Rafael Grossi, Aragucci made it clear that the role of the agency is not yet necessary. “We are not in a position to require the presence of an institution yet,” he explained, saying the IAEA is essential only if a final agreement is reached.
Despite Grossi’s visit to Rome, this was reportedly another initiative to meet Italian officials, but Aragucci stressed that the focus of indirect consultations was strictly on the nuclear issue. “There’s been some debate except building trust in Iran’s peaceful nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions,” he argued.
Frontline sanctions removed
During these talks, Iran has maintained firmness in its demand for the elimination of “illegal” sanctions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeir Baghihai reiterated on Saturday that Iran’s goal is to secure sanctions relief with strong guarantees. He emphasized that Iran is taking part in negotiations with “full severity and preparation,” but made it clear that potential agreements should include reliable assurances regarding the lifting of sanctions.
“Iran’s nuclear program is completely peaceful,” Baghey said. “Iran is ready to dispel doubt in this regard,” he also emphasized that there was no discussion on other topics and that the consultations remain narrowly focused on nuclear issues.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue come after a turbulent period, including the US withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under President Trump.
Araguchi says it is possible to reach an agreement with the US as long as Washington refrains from refraining from “unrealistic” demands. “If they show severity and make reasonable requests, the agreement is within reach,” he said.
The second round of talks in Rome praised the constructive atmosphere. Araguchi also thanked Italy for its efforts to promote negotiations and recognized its important role in holding discussions. Prior to the discussion of Rome, Aragucci held a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, to discuss mutual relations and regional development.
Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that the Iranian delegation was fully committed to consultations. “Iran took part in completely seriously,” he said, emphasizing that negotiations are important to restore trust and finding lasting solutions.
Oman’s continuous mediation: moving to the next phase
In a statement, Omani’s foreign ministry confirmed that both Iran and the US have agreed to “enter the next phase of consultation.”
The ministry added that the goal for this new phase is to ultimately “sign a fair nuclear agreement” based on the progress made.
The contemplated agreement ensures that Iran remains free from nuclear weapons while maintaining its right to peaceful nuclear energy, and that all sanctions will be lifted in a comprehensive and permanent manner.
The Foreign Ministry of Oman emphasized that dialogue and transparency are the only viable path forward. “A trustworthy and reliable understanding will benefit all stakeholders, both locally and internationally,” their spokesman said.
The next round of expert-level talks is scheduled to begin in Muscat on April 23rd, with the third high-level meeting being held on April 26th.