Iran-US nuclear talks made some 'but not conclusive progress,' mediator Oman says

Iran and nan United States made "some but not conclusive progress" successful nan 5th information of negotiations successful Rome over Tehran’s quickly advancing atomic programme, Oman's mediator has said.

The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested nan negotiations betwixt nan 2 sides would continue.

But blocking advancement is Washington's demands that Iran wholly extremity enriching uranium, thing Tehran has called a "red line" and insists its programme must continue.

"The 5th information of Iran US talks person concluded coming successful Rome pinch immoderate but not conclusive progress," al-Busaidi wrote connected X.

"We dream to explain nan remaining issues successful nan coming days, to let america to proceed towards nan communal extremity of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement."

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian authorities tv aft nan talks that al-Busaidi presented ideas that will beryllium conveyed to nan 2 nations' capitals "without creating immoderate commitments for either side."

"These negotiations are excessively analyzable to beryllium resolved successful conscionable 2 aliases 3 meetings," he said. "I americium hopeful that successful nan adjacent 1 aliases 2 rounds — particularly fixed nan amended knowing of nan Islamic Republic’s positions — we tin scope solutions that let nan talks to progress."

The US was again represented by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, nan State Department’s argumentation readying director.

They had nary contiguous remark afterwards, but nan Iranian broadside said Witkoff near early from nan negotiations which were held astatine nan Omani Embassy.

Enrichment a cardinal sticking point

The talks activity to limit Iran's atomic programme successful speech for nan lifting of immoderate of nan crushing economical sanctions nan US has imposed.

President Donald Trump has many times threatened to launch aerial strikes targeting Iran's atomic accommodation if a woody isn't reached.

Iranian officials meantime progressively warn they could prosecute a atomic limb pinch their stockpile of uranium enriched to adjacent weapons-grade levels.

"Iran almost surely is not producing atomic weapons, but Iran has undertaken activities successful caller years that amended position it to nutrient them, if it chooses to do so," a caller study from nan US Defence Intelligence Agency said.

"These actions trim nan clip required to nutrient capable weapons-grade uranium for a first atomic instrumentality to astir apt little than 1 week."

However, it apt still would return Iran months to make a moving bomb, experts say.

Enrichment remains nan cardinal constituent of contention. Witkoff astatine 1 constituent suggested Iran could enrich uranium astatine 3.67%, past later began saying each Iranian enrichment must stop.

That position connected nan American broadside has hardened complete time.

Asked astir nan negotiations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said "we judge that we are going to succeed" successful nan talks and connected Washington's push for nary enrichment.

One thought floated truthful acold that mightiness let Iran to extremity enrichment successful nan Islamic Republic but support a proviso of uranium could beryllium a consortium successful nan Middle East backed by location countries and nan US.

There besides are aggregate countries and nan International Atomic Energy Agency offering low-enriched uranium that tin beryllium utilized for serene purposes by countries.

However, Iran's Foreign Ministry has maintained enrichment must proceed wrong nan country's borders and a akin fuel-swap connection grounded to summation traction successful negotiations successful 2010.

Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to onslaught Iran’s atomic accommodation connected their ain if it feels threatened, further complicating location tensions already spiked by the warfare successful Gaza.

Araghchi warned earlier this week that Iran would return "special measures" to take sides its atomic sites if Israel continued to frighten them, while besides informing nan US it would position it arsenic complicit successful immoderate Israeli attack.

The landmark 2015 atomic woody pinch world powers, known arsenic nan Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), capped Tehran’s enrichment level astatine 3.67% and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms.

That level is capable for atomic powerfulness plants, but acold beneath weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Since nan woody collapsed successful 2018 pinch Trump's unilateral withdrawal of nan US from nan accord, Iran has abandoned each limits connected its programme and enriched uranium to up to 60% purity, a short, method measurement from weapons-grade levels.