Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States, urging that the diplomatic process must proceed without further delay.
Speaking during a session with members of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Sunday in Tehran, Gharibabadi stated that the latest round of talks in Rome—held on Saturday—saw both sides agreeing on the general framework, agenda, and the structure of upcoming technical discussions, according to committee spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei, cited by IRNA.
Rezaei noted that Gharibabadi emphasised the necessity of lifting all US-imposed sanctions in a manner that results in tangible economic relief for the Iranian public. He also underlined that Iran’s right to enrich uranium remains non-negotiable and is considered a red line in the discussions.
The negotiations in Rome follow an earlier round of indirect dialogue between Tehran and Washington held in Muscat, Oman, on April 12. Both sets of talks, focused on Iran’s nuclear activities and U.S. sanctions, have been described by both parties as “constructive,” according to Xinhua.
The diplomatic efforts come in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran, reportedly threatening military action if Tehran rejects his proposal for renewed talks — a message conveyed in a letter earlier in March.
Iran initially signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 with six world powers — the US, UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia — agreeing to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the US unilaterally exited the deal in 2018 under Trump’s leadership, reimposing sanctions and prompting Iran to scale back its commitments. Attempts to revive the agreement have seen little progress.
