The fourth round of talks between the United States and Iran, originally scheduled for Saturday in Rome, has been postponed.
According to a senior Iranian official who spoke to reporters on Thursday, a new date will be determined based on the United States’ approach moving forward.
U.S. sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks are not helping the sides to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy. Depending on the U.S. approach, the date of the next round of talks will be announced, the official said.
Iran previously accused the United States of sending mixed signals and making provocative remarks, following Washington’s warning of consequences over Tehran’s support for Yemen’s Houthis and the imposition of new oil-related sanctions amid ongoing nuclear negotiations.
On Thursday, Oman, which had mediated earlier rounds of US-Iran talks, announced that the next session, initially planned for May 3, would be postponed due to logistical reasons.
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Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Tehran remains committed to engaging seriously and steadfastly in negotiations with the US that are aimed at producing tangible results.
Reports indicate that Washington and Tehran have been holding discussions over the past month on a potential agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the US imposed sanctions on several entities it accused of participating in the illicit trade of Iranian oil and petrochemicals.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also issued a warning to Iran, cautioning that it would face consequences for backing the Houthis, who control northern Yemen and have targeted ships in the Red Sea in what they claim is an act of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Since mid-March, the US has reportedly carried out extensive airstrikes on Houthi targets, hitting over 1,000 sites.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned what he described as the contradictory stance of US policymakers, accusing them of lacking sincerity and seriousness in pursuing diplomatic solutions.
The responsibility for the consequences and destructive effects of the contradictory behaviour and provocative statements of American officials regarding Iran will lie with the American side, Baghaei said.
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