Russia could play a key role in a deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, with Moscow being touted not only as a possible destination for Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, but also as a possible arbiter of deal breaches.
Trump, who abandoned a 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and world powers in 2018 during his first term, has threatened to attack Iran unless it reaches a new deal swiftly that would prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Four hours of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Rome on Saturday, under the mediation of Oman, made significant progress, according to US officials. Further technical talks are due in Geneva this week, followed by another high-level diplomatic meeting next weekend in Oman, reports The Guardian.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who was at the heart of the Rome talks, wants an agreement wrapped up within 60 days, but is likely to face resistance from Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, who believes the levels of distrust and the technical nature of the talks make such a swift agreement unlikely.
Meanwhile, Iranian media portray Tehran as holding a strong position after Saturday’s nuclear talks with the United States, reports AFP.
“Iran’s military might has forced America to negotiate,” headlines the Kayhan newspaper, whose editorial line has long opposed any compromise or negotiations with the US.
“Americans need us and the credibility that negotiations with Iran give them,” wrote the newspaper, still describing Trump as an “untrustworthy psychopath”.