Iran said Wednesday that the next round of negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program will be in Rome on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comment on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, adding that Iran also anticipated having a meeting Friday with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to discuss the talks.
The talks with the US again will be mediated by Oman. The sultanate has hosted two rounds of talks in Oman’s capital, Muscat, and one round at its embassy in Rome.
The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on a half-century of enmity.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Two diplomatic sources confirmed to Reuters that French, British, and German political directors will meet with Iran on Friday in Rome.
Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the US that resumed in Oman on Saturday, and talks with Russia and China last week.
The moves by Iran to reach out to Britain, France, and Germany – known as the E3 – suggest Tehran is keeping its options open, but also wants to assess where the Europeans stand on the possible re-imposition of UN sanctions before October, when a resolution ratifying the 2015 accord expires.
