US worked to ‘set its demands realistically’ in talks with Iran – RT source

Delegations from the countries have held indirect discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program in Rome

A US delegation attempted to present realistic demands to Iran during Omani-mediated negotiations in Rome on Saturday, an informed source has told RT.

The delegations, led by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, sat in separate rooms as Omani mediators relayed messages between them.

The talks came two weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with “bombing” unless an agreement on its nuclear program was reached.

An informed source familiar with the talks told RT that “the American delegation tried to set its demands realistically in the second round of negotiations.”

“We made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions,” a US official told CBS News.

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Araghchi wrote on X that the “relatively positive atmosphere in Rome has enabled progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal.” He added that many in Tehran believe the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the original nuclear deal, is “no longer good enough for us.”

Trump abandoned the JCPOA during his first term in office, accusing the Islamic Republic of secretly violating the deal. His administration reimposed sanctions on Iran and, in February, after returning to office, he formally renewed his “maximum pressure” campaign. Tehran has denied any wrongdoing but has since rolled back its commitments under the 2015 plan, increasing its enrichment of uranium.

“Iran’s nuclear program is completely peaceful, and Iran is ready to dispel any doubts in this regard,” Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesman for Tehran’s foreign ministry, said on Saturday.

Technical experts are scheduled to meet again ahead of the next round of negotiations between Witkoff and Araghchi in Oman on April 26, according to the Iranian foreign minister.