Italy confirms it will host next round of US-Iran nuclear talks

A second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran will be held in Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is quoted as saying by the country’s main news agency ANSA.

Iran and the US said they held “positive” and “constructive” talks in Oman on Saturday and agreed to reconvene this week.

“We received a request from the interested parties and from Oman, which is playing the role of mediator, and we have given a positive response,” Tajani is quoted by ANSA as saying at the World Expo exhibition in the Japanese city of Osaka.

Rome has often hosted these type of talks, Tajani says, and is “prepared to do everything it takes to support all negotiations that can lead to a resolution of the nuclear issue, and to building peace.”

Earlier, the US news agency Axios, citing two unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter, reported that the second round of the US-Iranian talks would be held in Rome on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action if no deal is reached on halting Iran’s nuclear program, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he met with advisers on Iran and expected a quick decision. He gave no further details.

The previous day, he had told reporters that the Iran situation was “going pretty good, I think.”