From the Liveblog of
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Second round of Iran-US nuclear talks have started in Rome, Iranian state television says
A second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States has started in Rome, Iranian state television reports.
The mediated talks between the Iranian and US delegations began “a few minutes ago” in the Italian capital, a week after a first round was held in Oman, state media reports.
The talks are being held under the shadow of US President Donald Trump’s threat to potentially unleash military action if diplomacy fails.
White House envoy @SteveWitkoff arrives at the Omani embassy in Rome for the nuclear talks with Iran pic.twitter.com/9u45Sbz4Tx
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 19, 2025
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will negotiate indirectly through an Omani official who will shuttle messages between the two sides, Iranian officials say, a week after a first round of indirect talks in Muscat that both sides described as constructive.
???? US Iran talks at the Embassy of Oman in Rome :
* Talks already behind schedule : Supossed to start at 11:00 AM local time . It is 11:26
* Iranian delegation made it here (2sd video). The US delegation not yet . pic.twitter.com/GbUSjCyMIs
— Hiba Nasr (@HibaNasr) April 19, 2025
Araqchi and Witkoff interacted briefly at the end of the first round, but officials from the two countries have not held direct negotiations since 2015 under former US President Barack Obama.
Araqchi said in Moscow yesterday that Iran believes reaching an agreement on its nuclear program with the US is possible as long as Washington is realistic.
The Times of Israel Community.