A fourth spherical of Iran-US talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme has been postponed.
Iran mentioned the 2 international locations, together with facilitators Oman, had collectively determined to postpone Saturday’s assembly in Rome for “logistical and technical causes”. The US mentioned 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 recent sanctions this week on corporations it mentioned 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 mentioned 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 International Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi mentioned that Tehran’s “willpower to safe a negotiated resolution” 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 ceaselessly stay peaceable whereas guaranteeing that Iranian rights are totally revered.”
Nevertheless, a US State Division spokesperson mentioned Saturday’s assembly had not been confirmed and that it anticipated the subsequent spherical to happen “within the close to future”.
Oman’s international minister mentioned a brand new date could be set when agreed by all sides.
The announcement is unlikely to imply that the talks have damaged down, with each side desperate to keep away from struggle.
However studies 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 stress” coverage towards Tehran, the sanctions introduced on Wednesday goal entities mentioned by the US to be concerned within the illicit commerce of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals.
The US State Division mentioned in an announcement: “The Iranian regime continues to gas battle within the Center East, advance its nuclear program, and help its terrorist companions and proxies.
“Right this moment, america is taking motion to stem the movement of income that the regime makes use of to fund these destabilizing actions.”
Posting on his Reality Social account on Thursday, Trump wrote: “Any nation or one that buys any quantity of oil or petrochemicals from Iran will likely be topic to, instantly, secondary sanctions.
“They won’t be allowed to do enterprise with america of America in any method, form, or type.”
Iran has described the most recent sanctions as “additional proof of the American decision-makers’ contradictory behaviour and lack of fine religion”.
Media studies in Iran additionally level to a publish by US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on Thursday, which warned that Iran would “pay the consequence” for its help 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 help to the Houthis. We all know precisely what you might be 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 corresponding to Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah motion.
The US has launched a number of lethal strikes on Houthi targets in current months in response to the group’s assaults on transport within the Purple Sea, which started in November 2023 in response to Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza.
Trump has mentioned that he’s on the lookout 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 entire dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.
They’re additionally pushing for Iran to cease help 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 probably the most in depth 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.