The US State Department has clarified that the country will not participate in a fourth round of denuclearization talks with Iran, contrary to reports suggesting it would take place this weekend in Rome. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated at a news conference on Thursday that there was no confirmation of US participation.
However, she did express confidence that another round of talks will occur in the near future. The US has previously participated in talks with Iranian officials once in Rome and twice in Oman. Ambassador Steve Witkoff leads negotiations for President Donald Trump’s desired deal, which aims to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran is still committed to reaching a “fair and lasting agreement,” according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. The country seeks to have US sanctions lifted, while the Trump administration insists on verifiable proof that Iran has stopped enriching uranium.
Despite the lack of US participation in this weekend’s talks, a US official described the previous discussions as “positive and productive.” They agreed to meet again soon in Europe, facilitated by Omani partners. The negotiations were considered more serious than in the past, with deeper and more detailed discussions on major issues.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also noted that while progress was made, differences still exist between the two sides. The US has threatened to launch strikes on Iran if talks go sideways, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issuing an ominous warning to Iran over its support for the Houthis.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/iran-talks-rome-not-happening-weekend-were-never-confirmed-state-department-says