Fifth Round of Iran–U.S. Talks Concludes in Rome with ‘Some but Not Conclusive Progress’

Tehran, The Gulf Observer: The fifth round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States concluded today in Rome, Italy, marking another step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve longstanding tensions between the two nations.

The discussions were held between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for the Middle East. As with the previous four rounds, the session was mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, underscoring Oman’s continuing role as a trusted intermediary in the talks.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei earlier described the talks as being conducted in a “professional, calm, and reasonable atmosphere,” noting that more detailed information would be shared following the conclusion of the negotiations.

Foreign Minister Araqchi, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, and other senior diplomats and experts, arrived in Rome on Friday for the talks.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account prior to his departure, Araqchi outlined Iran’s clear position: “Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science: Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal.”

Following the conclusion of the negotiations, Omani Foreign Minister Al-Busaidi also shared an update on X, stating, “The fifth round of Iran–U.S. talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement.”

While the specifics of the progress made remain undisclosed, both parties have signaled a continued willingness to engage. Observers note that the consistency of the dialogue, combined with the involvement of a neutral mediator, reflects a cautious but ongoing commitment to diplomacy amid complex geopolitical dynamics.

This fifth round of discussions is part of broader indirect efforts to reduce regional tensions and explore avenues for a potential agreement on nuclear and security issues. As the world watches closely, hopes remain that the remaining differences can be bridged in future sessions.