Uranium enrichment dispute hangs over fifth round of US, Iran nuclear talks
Following a fifth round of talks in Rome, the Iranian FM described them as the 'most professional' and said there is 'potential for progress'
Iran and the US concluded a fifth round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program on 23 May in Rome, with Iran's ability to enrich uranium domestically emerging as the key point of difference.
Following Friday's indirect negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “There is potential for progress … with the proposals presented by Oman.”
“The nuclear talks with Washington are complex and require further discussions. Today’s round was the most professional; we clarified our positions, and the US side now has a better understanding of them,” Araghchi added.
"We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honorable agreement," Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi told reporters.
Ahead of the talks, Araghchi stressed that no enrichment would mean “we do NOT have a deal.”
“Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science,” Araghchi said via social media. “Time to decide.”
The US has proposed that Iran receive uranium enriched in third-party countries, making it vulnerable to loss of access in the future.
The US is represented in the talks by regional envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director, while Oman serves as the mediator.
Iran is requesting that the US lift economic sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear program, which it insists is intended solely for civilian use. However, Washington and Tel Aviv contend that Iran is covertly pursuing a nuclear weapon. Notably, Israel remains the only government in West Asia known to possess nuclear arms.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran if a deal is not reached on US terms.
Witkoff, at one point, suggested Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67 percent, then later backpedaled, stressing that all Iranian enrichment must stop.
Enrichment at 90 percent is needed to produce nuclear weapons.
However, Iran's Foreign Ministry has maintained that enrichment must continue within the country's borders.
Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities on its own if the US does not take action.
Araghchi warned Thursday that the Islamic Republic would take “special measures” to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, while also warning Tehran would view Washington as complicit in any Israeli attack.
Amid the talks, the White House has also continued to impose new sanctions on Iran. This week, the US sought to block the sale of sodium perchlorate to Tehran.
AP notes that Iran reportedly received shipments of the chemical from China at its Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. “A major, unexplained explosion there killed dozens and wounded over 1,000 others in April during one round of the talks,” the news agency added.
Israel has carried out covert attacks against Iran's nuclear program in the past, including assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists.
Tel Aviv continues to exercise influence in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Axios reported on Thursday that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, will meet Witkoff in Rome on Friday on the sidelines of the nuclear talks.
Two Israeli officials told Axios that Dermer and Barnea are traveling to Rome to coordinate positions with Witkoff and be briefed immediately after the talks.