The nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, held yesterday (Saturday) in Rome, concluded without any significant progress, according to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The report stated that both sides “struggled to reach an agreement, but no meaningful advancement was made.”
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, confirmed that the talks ended “with some but not decisive progress,” expressing hope that the remaining issues will soon be clarified.
No Deal Before Summer
The main point of contention in the negotiations is Iran’s uranium enrichment program. NBC News, citing U.S. diplomats, reported that a deal before summer is “technically impossible” due to Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%.
Iran Continues to Accuse
On the Iranian side, diplomat Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran stressed that “Iran’s red line on enrichment is deep and impenetrable,” accusing the United States of hardening its stance. He claimed that while some flexibility was seen from the American side during the third round of talks, the U.S. later reverted to demanding a complete halt to uranium enrichment—an ultimatum Iran firmly rejects.
Abbas Araghchi’s advisor and Iran’s Foreign Minister emphasized that “deep differences” remain between the parties, and that the Iranian Foreign Minister is likely to face significant pressure both domestically and internationally.
The Enrichment Issue – What’s at Stake?
Uranium enrichment remains the most sensitive issue in the talks. It’s a technical process that allows uranium to be used either for civilian energy or, at higher levels, for weapons. When Iran enriches uranium to 60%, it approaches weapons-grade levels required to build a nuclear bomb. The United States sees this as a serious threat and demands a complete cessation of high-level enrichment. Iran, however, claims it has the right to develop this technology and refuses to give it up. Without consensus on this point, progress toward an agreement remains highly unlikely.
