A fourth spherical of Iran-US talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme has been postponed.
Iran stated the 2 nations, together with facilitators Oman, had collectively determined to postpone Saturday’s assembly in Rome for “logistical and technical causes”. The US stated the timing of the talks had not been confirmed within the first place.
It got here as US President Donald Trump threatened motion in opposition to these shopping for Iranian oil or petrochemicals on Thursday, after Washington launched contemporary sanctions this week on corporations it stated had hyperlinks to Tehran.
Trump pulled the US out of a earlier nuclear settlement between Iran and 5 different world powers in 2018, and has lengthy stated he would make a “higher” deal.
He has beforehand warned of navy motion if these new talks, which started in April, don’t succeed. Each side described the primary spherical of talks in Oman’s capital Muscat as “constructive”.
Iran’s Overseas Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran’s “willpower to safe a negotiated answer” had not modified.
He wrote on X: “In truth, we’re extra decided than ever to attain a simply and balanced deal: guaranteeing an finish to sanctions, and creating confidence that Iran’s nuclear program will eternally stay peaceable whereas making certain that Iranian rights are absolutely revered.”
Nonetheless, a US State Division spokesperson stated Saturday’s assembly had not been confirmed and that it anticipated the following spherical to happen “within the close to future”.
Oman’s overseas minister stated a brand new date can be set when agreed by all sides.
The announcement is unlikely to imply that the talks have damaged down, with either side wanting to keep away from warfare.
However stories from Tehran have described rising doubt concerning the usefulness of the talks, pointing to the brand new sanctions and what Tehran calls contradictory positions from the US delegation.
A part of Trump’s “most strain” coverage towards Tehran, the sanctions introduced on Wednesday goal entities stated by the US to be concerned within the illicit commerce of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals.
The US State Division stated in a statement: “The Iranian regime continues to gas battle within the Center East, advance its nuclear program, and assist its terrorist companions and proxies.
“At the moment, the US is taking motion to stem the stream of income that the regime makes use of to fund these destabilizing actions.”
Posting on his Fact Social account on Thursday, Trump wrote: “Any nation or one who buys any quantity of oil or petrochemicals from Iran can be topic to, instantly, secondary sanctions.
“They won’t be allowed to do enterprise with the US of America in any manner, form, or kind.”
Iran has described the newest sanctions as “additional proof of the American decision-makers’ contradictory behaviour and lack of excellent religion”.
Media stories in Iran additionally level to a post by US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on Thursday, which warned that Iran would “pay the consequence” for its assist of Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The message was reposted by Trump’s Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff who has been main the US delegation.
It learn: “Message to Iran: We see your deadly assist to the Houthis. We all know precisely what you’re doing. You’ll pay the consequence on the time and place of our selecting.”
The Houthis have declared themselves a part of an “axis of resistance” of Iran-affiliated teams in opposition to Israel, the US and the broader West – together with armed teams equivalent to Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah motion.
The US has launched a number of lethal strikes on Houthi targets in latest months in response to the group’s assaults on transport within the Crimson Sea, which started in November 2023 in response to Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza.
Trump has stated that he’s searching for an answer that will shut Iran’s pathways to construct a nuclear bomb. However there are these in his administration who’re pushing for the whole dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.
They’re additionally pushing for Iran to cease assist for its proxies within the area, together with the Houthis.
Iran says its programme is peaceable and that it has a proper to enrichment. It’s hoping for a deal to restrict, however not dismantle, its nuclear programme in trade for sanctions aid.
After Russia, Iran has been beneath essentially the most intensive set of sanctions in historical past – the sanctions that the US has imposed on the nation.
President Massoud Pezeshkian has centred Iran’s financial insurance policies on the promise of the lifting these sanctions.
