Oman Confirms New US-Iran Nuclear Talks Despite Sharp Divide on Enrichment

US and Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks in Rome Amid Enrichment Standoff

ROME / WASHINGTON – The United States and Iran will meet again for nuclear talks in Rome on Friday, confirmed Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, even as the two nations remain entrenched in a heated dispute over uranium enrichment — a core issue threatening any potential agreement.

The announcement comes after days of heightened tensions, with US and Iranian officials exchanging stern public statements outlining mutually exclusive red lines. The US insists that Iran must cease all uranium enrichment, while Iran maintains it will never surrender its right to do so.

Related: Iran vows to continue enrichment despite U.S. demands – Mehr News

Trump’s Hardline Stance and Red Line on Enrichment

US President Donald Trump and his lead negotiator Steve Witkoff have made it clear that Iranian enrichment capability — even at minimal levels — is unacceptable.

“We cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability,” Witkoff said, labelling it a non-negotiable red line for Washington.

Instead, the US has proposed that Iran rely solely on imported enriched uranium for peaceful energy use — a position Tehran has outright rejected as an infringement of its sovereignty.

Iran Remains Defiant

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to the US position earlier this week with defiance, declaring:

“Saying things like ‘We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’ is nonsense. Iran doesn’t need anyone’s permission.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this sentiment on Sunday, indicating that despite some apparent diplomatic flexibility behind closed doors, Tehran will not abandon enrichment under any scenario.

“There is no scenario in which Iran will give up enrichment,” Araghchi posted on social media. “We see inconsistencies in what our US counterparts say publicly and privately.”

Background: Collapse of the JCPOA and Renewed ‘Maximum Pressure’

The standoff is rooted in Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the landmark nuclear accord signed under the Obama administration.

Since returning to the White House in 2025, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign, reimposing sweeping economic sanctions, especially targeting Iran’s oil exports to China.

While Iran has consistently denied that it is seeking a nuclear weapon, Washington’s rhetoric has grown more aggressive, with Trump threatening military action if Tehran crosses US-defined red lines.

Can Oman’s Mediation Bridge the Gap?

Oman, a long-time diplomatic intermediary, has hosted four previous rounds of indirect negotiations. The upcoming fifth round in Rome will again rely on Omani facilitation, although analysts remain sceptical about whether progress can be made without movement on the enrichment issue.

“This is the most difficult negotiation of them all because it’s no longer just about technical caps or timelines — it’s about national pride and sovereignty,” said a senior diplomat familiar with the talks.