Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks with the United States Ends Very Positively – Iranian Foreign Minister

Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks with the United States Ends Very Positively – Iranian Foreign Minister
[Dubai, May 24, 2025]

Representatives from Iran and the United States concluded the fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome, indicating some limited progress on this long-standing and tense issue.

The talks aimed to establish a new nuclear agreement after the collapse of the 2015 deal. However, sharp disagreements over uranium enrichment have overshadowed progress in the discussions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, “We have clearly presented our position. Oman has put forward several proposals, and we are now moving on a reasonable path — which is a sign of progress.” He also told state television that the proposals will now be reviewed in the capitals of both countries and that a schedule for the next round will be arranged.

A senior U.S. official said the talks took place both directly and indirectly — through Omani mediators. “The talks were constructive, there was progress, but much work remains. We have agreed to meet again soon.”

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi tweeted that the discussions between Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy, ended with “some, but not final, progress.”

Before the talks, Araghchi tweeted:
“Zero nuclear weapons = we are in the deal. Zero enrichment = we are not in the deal. Now is the time to decide.”

However, Iran is unwilling to send all its highly enriched uranium abroad, which could be used as nuclear bomb material. They are also reluctant to discuss their ballistic missile program. Diplomats say that reaching a final agreement before summer is technically impossible.

A senior Iranian official said, “If the United States moves away from the ‘zero enrichment’ demand, then a political compromise is possible.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We want a deal where Iran can use nuclear energy peacefully but cannot enrich uranium. But it will not be easy.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected this demand as “illogical and extremist,” saying such talks will not be fruitful.

Tehran has stated that it is willing to accept some limits but requires strong guarantees that Washington will not backtrack from any future deal.

Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during his presidency in 2018 and reimposed a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which severely damaged Iran’s economy.

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Iran sees uranium enrichment as a matter of sovereignty.
She said, “It is impossible to force Iran to completely shut down its program or give up all enrichment — although that would be ideal.”

If the deal fails, the consequences could be dire. Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat and has stated it will never allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran, however, claims its program is strictly for peaceful civilian purposes.