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Arab News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM lauds Iran's engagement in nuclear talks with US, hopes for positive outcome
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised the Iranian leadership for its 'farsightedness' in pursuing nuclear negotiations with the United States and expressed hope for a positive outcome during a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Sharif arrived in Iran earlier in the day after a stop in Istanbul, as part of a regional diplomacy tour that includes upcoming visits to Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. His trip follows a brief but intense military standoff with neighboring India, in which the two nuclear-armed rivals exchanged missile, drone and artillery fire. Pakistan has thanked Tehran for its support during the conflict. 'The Prime Minister praised the farsightedness of the Iranian leadership in pursuing the nuclear negotiations with the United States and hoped that a constructive deal is reached between the two countries that can promote peace and stability in the region,' Sharif's office said in a statement. Talks between Iran and the US aim to limit Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. A key sticking point remains uranium enrichment, with Washington asking Iran to halt its program, while Tehran insisting on its right to continue enrichment for civilian purposes. During the meeting, Sharif also informed Khamenei about Pakistan's recent conflict with India and accused New Delhi of 'hegemonistic and revisionist designs.' He emphasized Pakistan's desire for regional peace and economic development, and expressed a commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with Iran 'in complex geo-political times.' The Prime Minister's Office said Khamenei praised Sharif's efforts to promote peace and regional stability and reaffirmed support for closer bilateral ties. Earlier on Monday, Sharif also met newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. At a joint press conference, the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, with Pezeshkian emphasizing the need for secure and peaceful borders free from militant and criminal activity. Relations between the two neighbors became strained last year after Iran launched strikes inside Pakistani territory against suspected militant hideouts, prompting retaliatory strikes by Islamabad against separatist militants in Iran. Both sides have since sought to de-escalate tensions and pledged to respect each other's sovereignty. Sharif concluded his meeting with Khamenei by inviting the Supreme Leader to visit Islamabad and expressed appreciation for his admiration of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Omani Mediator Says Iran-US Talks Made ‘Some but Not Conclusive Progress'
Iran and the United States made 'some but not conclusive progress' Friday in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, the talks' Omani mediator said. The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested the negotiations between the two longtime enemies would continue even as the talks run up against their toughest challenge: Trying to find middle ground between American demands that Iran stop enriching uranium while Tehran insists its program must continue. 'The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress,' al-Busaidi wrote. 'We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honorable agreement.' US officials up to President Donald Trump insist Iran cannot continue to enrich uranium at all in any deal that could see sanctions lifted on Tehran's struggling economy. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi early Friday insisted online that no enrichment would mean 'we do NOT have a deal.' 'Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science,' Araghchi wrote on X. 'Time to decide.' The US was again represented in the talks by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director. Al-Busaidi was mediating the negotiations as the sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula has been a trusted interlocutor by both Tehran and Washington in the talks. Multiple convoys arrived at the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighborhood just after 1 p.m. The embassy previously served as the site of another round of talks. Iranian media said the talks started at 1:30 p.m. After about 2 1/2 hours, a convoy left the embassy compound. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, at the embassy in Rome, told state television that it was Witkoff leaving because he needed to catch a flight. Baghaei said the talks had continued without Witkoff in a 'sane and calm atmosphere.' Araghchi announced online the talks were over just after 5 p.m. Enrichment remains key in negotiations The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on Tehhran, closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. 'Iran almost certainly is not producing nuclear weapons, but Iran has undertaken activities in recent years that better position it to produce them, if it chooses to do so,' a new report from the US Defense Intelligence Agency said. 'These actions reduce the time required to produce sufficient weapons-grade uranium for a first nuclear device to probably less than one week.' However, it likely still would take Iran months to make a working bomb, experts say. Enrichment remains the key point of contention. Witkoff at one point suggested Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later began saying all Iranian enrichment must stop. That position on the American side has hardened over time. Asked about the negotiations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said 'we believe that we are going to succeed' in the talks and on Washington's push for no enrichment. 'The Iranians are at that table, so they also understand what our position is, and they continue to go," Bruce said Thursday. One idea floated so far that might allow Iran to stop enrichment in the country but maintain a supply of uranium could be a consortium in the Middle East backed by regional countries and the US. There also are multiple countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency offering low-enriched uranium that can be used for peaceful purposes by countries. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry has maintained enrichment must continue within the country's borders and a similar fuel-swap proposal failed to gain traction in negotiations in 2010. Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities on their own if it feels threatened, further complicating tensions in the Middle East already spiked by the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Araghchi warned Thursday that Iran would take 'special measures' to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, while also warning the US it would view it as being complicit in any Israeli attack. Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes. US pressure on Iran increases Yet despite the tough talk from Iran, Tehran needs a deal. Its internal politics are inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Iran's rial currency plunged to over 1 million to a US dollar in April. The currency has improved with the talks, however, something Tehran hopes will continue as a further collapse in the rial could spark further economic unrest. Meanwhile, its self-described 'Axis of Resistance' sits in tatters after Iran's regional allies in the region have faced repeated attacks by Israel during its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government during an opposition advance in December also stripped Iran of a key ally. The Trump administration also has continued to levy new sanctions on Iran, including this week, which saw the US specifically target any sale of sodium perchlorate to the country. Iran reportedly received that chemical in shipments from China at its Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. A major, unexplained explosion there killed dozens and wounded over 1,000 others in April during one round of the talks.
Times of Oman
23-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Middle East: Iran, US hold crucial round of nuclear talks
The fifth round of nuclear negotiations between Iranian and US delegations in Rome has ended with limited progress, according to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who mediated the talks. "The fifth round of Iran-US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress," Sayyid Badr said on X. He added that he hoped "the remaining issues" would be clarified in the coming days. Iranian and US negotiators have been meeting in Italy's capital Rome for a fifth round of nuclear talks after a public dispute over uranium enrichment that ended the previous round in Oman. The talks, the highest-level contact between the two countries since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, are being mediated by Oman. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are leading the delegations, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" strategy on Iran, supporting diplomacy while warning of military action if talks fail. Tehran is seeking a new agreement to ease sanctions that have severely impacted its economy. During the fourth round of talks, Witkoff stated that Washington "could not authorize even one percent" enrichment — a stance Iran rejected, citing its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ahead of Friday's meeting, Araghchi said "fundamental differences" remain, particularly over enrichment rights. He warned, "We will not have an agreement at all" if the US insists on banning Iranian enrichment. However, he said Iran was open to increased international inspections of its nuclear sites. The Rome talks come ahead of a June meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the expiration of parts of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in October. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity — far above the 3.67% cap under the deal but still below the 90% level required for a nuclear weapon. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear arms.
BreakingNews.ie
23-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Omani mediator says Iran-US talks made ‘some but not conclusive progress'
Iran and the United States made 'some but not conclusive progress' in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme, the talks' Omani mediator said. The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested the negotiations between the two long-time enemies would continue even as the talks run up against their toughest challenge: Trying to find middle ground between American demands that Iran stop enriching uranium while Tehran insists its programme must continue. Advertisement 'The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress,' Mr al-Busaidi wrote. 'We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement.' US officials up to President Donald Trump insist Iran cannot continue to enrich uranium at all in any deal that could see sanctions lifted on Tehran's struggling economy. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi early on Friday insisted online that no enrichment would mean 'we do NOT have a deal.' Advertisement 'Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science,' Mr Araghchi wrote on X. 'Time to decide.' The US was again represented in the talks by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director. Mr al-Busaidi was mediating the negotiations as the sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula has been a trusted interlocutor by both Tehran and Washington in the talks. Multiple convoys arrived at the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighbourhood just after 1pm. The embassy previously served as the site of another round of talks. Iranian media said the talks started at 1.30pm. Advertisement After about two-and-a-half hours, a convoy left the embassy compound. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, at the embassy in Rome, told state television that it was Mr Witkoff leaving because he needed to catch a flight. Mr Baghaei said the talks had continued without Mr Witkoff in a 'sane and calm atmosphere.' Mr Araghchi announced online the talks were over just after 5pm.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Next Round of Iran-US talks to Take Place on May 23 in Rome, Oman FM Says
The fifth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is set to take place on Friday in Rome, mediator Oman announced on Wednesday. "The 5th round of Iran-US talks will take place in Rome this Friday 23rd May," Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.
