The US and Iran delegations gather in Rome on Saturday (19) for a second round of high -level negotiations on the Tehran nuclear program, amid moderate optimism regarding a diplomatic path to follow.
This Saturday’s negotiations take place a week after the initial round held in Mascate.
Although negotiations will be in Italy, Oman is expected to act again as a mediator between the US team, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iran, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araye.
Araye arrived in the Italian capital on Saturday morning, the Iranian state media said.
US President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that he is not considering imminent military attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“I’m in no hurry to do so because I believe Iran has a chance to have a great country and live happily without death,” he said when asked about a New York Times report that he reported that he would have disregarded such a military action by the influence of Israel.
“I would like to see this, this is my first option. If there is a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran,” added the US president.
Prior to the negotiations in Rome, Witkoff met discreetly on Friday in Paris with Israeli’s minister of strategic affairs and closest confidant to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, and Mossad director David Barnea.
The Israeli government defends aggressive actions against Iran, not diplomacy. Netanyahu’s office argued on Thursday that Israeli “open and secret operations” were the reason “Iran currently has no nuclear arsenal.”
US intelligence agencies warned that Israel will probably try to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the CNN in February.
Witkoff was in the French capital with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for discussions about Ukraine, and the two discussed the next meeting of Iran with the so -called allies “E3” – France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“For Europeans, they have an important decision to make very soon about the resumption of sanctions because Iran is clearly in disagreement with the current proposal,” Rubio said on Friday (18).
“This will be a factor and that is why it was important to talk to them about it before our negotiations on Saturday,” he added.
“We hope the negotiations will continue, be fruitful and that they can lead to something,” said the American high diplomat. “We all prefer a peaceful and lasting resolution.”
Araghi visited Moscow before heading to Rome, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“We are hopeful and we hope Russia will continue to support any new agreement,” Araghchi said in Moscow, according to the Associated Press.
UN nuclear boss Rafael Grossi said during a visit to Iran that negotiations are “in a very crucial phase,” adding, “We know we don’t have much time.”
Since US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran during Trump’s first term, Tehran has exceeded the uranium enrichment limits, but maintained the position that he does not seek a nuclear weapon.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman Al Saud also traveled to Tehran this week at one of the highest level of a Saudi authority in decades.
The visit aimed to strengthen the diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and signal that the kingdom can play a role in reducing tension and mediation of peace efforts, a source told the source CNN .
This source noted that Saudis do not know what Trump plans in negotiations with Iran and that the assessment in Saudi Arabia is that they can be unpredictable and short duration.
This content was originally published in Iran and US authorities gather in Rome to discuss nuclear agreement on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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