Tehran: A senior Iranian official has confirmed that the fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States—initially scheduled to be held in Rome—has been postponed. The new date will be determined based on Washington’s behavior, the official told Reuters on Thursday.
“U.S. sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks are not helping the sides to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy,” the official stated.
“Depending on the U.S. approach, the date of the next round of talks will be announced.”
Oman, which played a mediating role in earlier negotiations, said the session provisionally planned for May 3 would be rescheduled due to “logistical reasons.” However, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the United States had never formally confirmed its participation in the Rome talks. The timing and venue for the next round are still under discussion but expected to be finalized soon.
Tensions have escalated in recent days, with Iran accusing Washington of “contradictory behaviour and provocative statements.” This came after the United States warned Tehran of consequences for supporting Yemen’s Houthi rebels and imposed additional oil-related sanctions on Iran during the ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Despite the strained atmosphere, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized, via state media, that Tehran remains committed to engaging “seriously and resolutely” in result-oriented negotiations with the U.S.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously threatened military action if diplomacy failed, has expressed optimism about reaching a new agreement with Tehran aimed at blocking its path to a nuclear weapon. Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term and reimposed stringent sanctions as part of a renewed “maximum pressure” campaign beginning in February.
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Following Washington’s exit from the 2015 accord—originally struck between Iran and six world powers—Tehran has significantly exceeded the limits imposed on its uranium enrichment program. While Western nations fear Iran could pursue nuclear weapons, Tehran insists its nuclear activities are strictly peaceful.
In parallel to U.S.-Iran discussions, Iran and the three European signatories to the 2015 deal—Britain, France, and Germany—were scheduled to meet in Rome on Friday in an attempt to ease mounting tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, the same senior Iranian official indicated on Thursday that the meeting’s status was now “not certain”.
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In a separate development, Washington announced fresh sanctions on entities allegedly involved in Iran’s illegal trade of oil and petrochemicals. At the same time, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning to Iran, citing potential repercussions for backing the Houthis. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, have claimed attacks on Red Sea vessels in support of Palestinians.
Since mid-March, U.S. forces have launched extensive airstrikes on Houthi positions, targeting over 1,000 sites. Iran, however, maintains that the Houthis operate independently.
