WORLD NEWS
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is set to visit Russia this week to discuss the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States, ahead of a new round of talks planned for Rome. The visit follows a key meeting between Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman on Saturday, marking the highest-level discussions since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 deal, has reignited tensions with Iran since returning to office in January. His administration has pressed for renewed nuclear talks, warning of potential military action if Tehran refuses to engage. Despite this, Iran continues to maintain that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, not for developing weapons, a claim that the West, particularly the United States, has long been skeptical of.
Russia, a close ally of Iran and a party to the 2015 deal, has been instrumental in facilitating discussions between Tehran and Washington, along with China. Iran’s nuclear issue has been a central focus of diplomatic efforts in recent months, with Moscow urging a diplomatic solution and cautioning against military confrontation, which it described as a potential “global catastrophe.”
Araghchi’s visit to Moscow is described by Iran’s Foreign Ministry as a pre-planned trip aimed at discussing the latest developments stemming from the Muscat talks. The visit will see Araghchi meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other senior officials. Russia has welcomed the progress of the Iran-US talks, highlighting the importance of continuing diplomatic engagement.
A new round of talks between Iran and the United States is set for Saturday (April 19), with Italy offering to host the discussions in Rome, though the final confirmation of the location is still pending. Iran has indicated that the upcoming discussions will focus exclusively on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions, reaffirming that it will not engage in talks with the United States on any other issues.
Iranian officials also emphasized that the country’s regional influence and missile capabilities were among its “red lines” in the negotiations, with Tehran reiterating its commitment to peaceful nuclear development. As the deadline for further talks draws closer, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led by Rafael Grossi, will play a pivotal role. Grossi is expected to visit Tehran later this week to meet with key officials, including Araghchi and Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Nuclear Energy Agency.
The IAEA’s latest report revealed that Iran has accumulated significant quantities of highly enriched uranium, well beyond the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 agreement. While this has raised alarms, Iran continues to deny any intention of developing nuclear weapons.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will remain on the upcoming talks in Rome, with hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing Iran nuclear crisis.
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