Second round of US-Iran talks in Rome

The location for the second round of indirect negotiations between the US and Iran, scheduled for Saturday, has been determined. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated, "We have not received any new request from the other side to change the location of the negotiations so far. Rome has been determined as the venue for the second round."

Gharibabadi noted that discussing the venue of the negotiations is trivial compared to the content, saying, "Such issues usually arise for technical reasons, at the request of one of the parties, or due to logistical and support needs. Initially, it was planned for Oman to be the permanent venue for the talks, but then the issue of Rome came up. The Iranian side did not show any special sensitivity to this matter. We should primarily focus on the content and the actual work, and not waste time on unnecessary details," he said.

"FAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE"

Emphasizing that it is important for the distance to be equal for both sides in the negotiations, Gharibabadi said, "When we encountered the other side's request to change the negotiation venue once or twice, we accepted it, even though it would be better to have stability. What matters is that the distance is equal for both sides, rather than where this meeting is held. Oman is close to us but far from the other side, and such factors are also taken into account," he expressed.

Stating that Oman will be the mediator country regardless of where the negotiations are held, Gharibabadi said, "Changing the location is not a key issue. However, having a fixed location would be better for the stability of the process. If the proposed country is not one with which Iran has serious political problems, we approach the requests positively. Such details may be important for the media and the public, but they do not affect the content of the negotiation," he said.

"SHOULD NOT BE MISLEADING"

Evaluating the first round of talks held in Oman, Gharibabadi said, "The first round was completed in less than three hours, and there was no serious disagreement. In indirect negotiations, talks usually take a long time. However, the successful completion of the first round does not mean that subsequent meetings will end in the same way. Negotiation is a process. How seriously the other side approaches this process and to what extent it is influenced by the pressures of third parties will become clear in the coming rounds," he said.

Gharibabadi added, "We are ready for the talks to continue not just for one day, but over different days. Our goal is to see if it is truly possible to reach a consensus. The second important issue is threats. Is the other side truly serious in this process like Iran, or did they not participate in these talks with sincere intentions? The military buildup and threatening steps taken by the US in the region could make the intention and seriousness of reaching a consensus in these negotiations questionable," he stated.

ROME REPORTS HAD BEEN DENIED

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei had reacted to the post by Axios foreign policy reporter Barak Ravid regarding the second round being held in Rome, saying, "Changing the location of the goal in football is a professional error and an unfair move. However, such a move in diplomacy, which is encouraged by radical elements who cannot grasp the logic and art of negotiation, can lead any beginning to destruction."

Baghaei had also stated, "Following the consultations held, it was decided that Muscat would host the second round of negotiations again. The talks will be held on Saturday, April 19."

Ravid had said in a post on his social media account, "According to information given to me by three sources, the second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran will finally take place in Rome on Saturday."

FIRST ROUND WAS POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE

The first round of negotiations was held indirectly on Saturday, April 12, in Muscat, the capital of Oman, with the participation of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi. After the talks, both sides evaluated the process as "positive and constructive."

News Source: İHA