Rome hosts US-Iran nuclear talks

The second meeting between mediators from the United States and Iran was convened to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue and took place at the Omani Embassy in Rome. The meeting, which proved inconclusive, will be followed by another, scheduled for 26 April, which should be held in Oman with the involvement of experts and technicians. One of the key topics under discussion is the rapid advancement of the Iranian programme for uranium enrichment. Despite Iran’s repeated denials of using nuclear energy for military purposes, the country has recently achieved enrichment levels close to 60 percent, significantly exceeding the levels required for civilian applications. The United States is insisting that Iran completely abandons its uranium enrichment programme, including that for NPP. Iran is willing to make concessions on its nuclear programme, in exchange for an easing of the current heavy economic sanctions, without giving up the programme entirely. The current situation is a direct result of the agreement established in 2015 with the Barack Obama administration. This agreement permitted Iran to enrich uranium for civilian purposes up to a maximum level of 3.67 percent. In exchange, strict controls were established in return for the lifting of economic sanctions that had been damaging the country’s economy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, stating that significant agreement has been reached on several key principles and objectives.