Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced today that a fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. will take place in Rome on May 23, mediated by Oman. As of May 21, it wasn’t clear that talks would occur at all, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was “assessing” whether it was worth meeting, given Washington’s “excessive” demands. Tensions are running high, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s inconsistent position on the issue of Iran’s right to enrich uranium for its peaceful nuclear energy program.
Both Donald Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have made contradictory statements in this regard, although last night White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that the President would like to make a deal with Iran, which he discussed in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after two Israeli embassy staff members were killed on May 21. The two leaders discussed many things, Leavitt said, “including a potential deal with Iran. The president believes it’s moving in the right direction.”
It remains to be seen what emerges from the Rome meeting. After CNN’s May 20 report cited U.S. intelligence sources warning that Israel was planning an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Araghchi posted a message to X that Iran would respond “forcefully” to any Israeli attacks without hesitation, to protect the nation’s interests and its people.
