Rome, April 19 – Iran and the United States have agreed to begin drafting a framework for a potential nuclear deal, following a second round of indirect negotiations mediated by Oman. The talks come shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action unless Iran agrees to limit its nuclear activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome, communicating via an Omani diplomat who facilitated the nearly four-hour discussion.
Araqchi stated on Iranian state TV that the talks were productive and constructive, resulting in a mutual understanding on several key principles. Both sides agreed to continue negotiations, moving to the expert level in Oman starting Wednesday, where technical teams will begin designing a draft outline for a potential agreement.
The senior negotiators are scheduled to reconvene next Saturday in Oman to evaluate the progress made by the experts and determine alignment with the core principles discussed.
While noting progress, Araqchi remained cautious, echoing sentiments from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei:
“We are acting very cautiously. There is no reason to be overly optimistic or pessimistic at this stage.”
The U.S. has yet to release an official statement, though Trump reiterated to reporters,
“I want Iran to be great and prosperous… but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump had withdrawn from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during his first term in 2018, a move strongly supported by Israel, which continues to warn against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Sources suggest Israel has not ruled out the possibility of military action in the near future.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though it has significantly exceeded the enrichment limits set by the 2015 agreement. A senior Iranian official confirmed Iran’s negotiating red lines, including a refusal to dismantle its centrifuges or reduce enriched uranium below 2015 thresholds.
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