US and Iran resume nuclear talks despite significant disagreements

Iranian and American negotiators are set to restart discussions in Rome to address the long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, even as Iran’s supreme leader signals that reaching a new agreement may be extremely difficult due to conflicting non-negotiable demands. The talks hold high stakes for both countries: the US aims to limit Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, which could spark a regional arms race, while Iran seeks relief from crippling sanctions affecting its oil-driven economy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, through Omani intermediaries, will engage in the fifth round of talks despite firm public positions on uranium enrichment from both sides. While Iran describes the negotiations as indirect, US officials indicate they have involved both direct and indirect communication, including a recent meeting in Oman.

Both Tehran and Washington express a preference for diplomacy to resolve their differences, but remain divided over several critical issues that complicate the path to a new nuclear agreement and the avoidance of military conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the difficulty in reaching a deal that permits Iran to maintain a civil nuclear energy program while halting uranium enrichment.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed US demands to cease uranium enrichment as unacceptable, casting doubt on the talks’ success. Key obstacles include Tehran’s refusal to send its highly enriched uranium abroad and to negotiate on its ballistic missile program. Iran is willing to consider some limits on uranium enrichment but insists on strong guarantees against future US violations of any agreement.

The breakdown of talks carries serious risks. Despite Iran’s claims that its nuclear activities are peaceful, Israel remains firmly opposed to any Iranian nuclear weapons capability. Iranian officials warned the US would be legally responsible if Israel attacks Iranian nuclear sites, amid reports that Israel may be preparing for such actions.

As tensions rise over Iran’s uranium enrichment, sources reveal the Iranian leadership has no clear contingency plan if negotiations fail.