US, Iran Notch Limited Progress Following Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks, Says Mediator Oman

Tehran has said it won’t pursue nuclear weapons, but isn’t willing to give up its uranium enrichment program.

(Left) U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, 2025; (Right) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein, Amer Hilabi/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. and Iranian representatives ended a round of nuclear talks in Rome on May 23, but did not achieve any conclusive results, according to mediator and Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.

“The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress,” Busaidi wrote on social media platform X as the talks concluded.

“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.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered an optimistic outlook following the talks and told Iranian state television it was among “the most professional sessions” of the negotiation process thus far.

“Now, a better and clearer understanding of our positions has been established with the American side, and both sides are taking the raised proposals and ideas to their capitals for further review,” he said.

Iran’s ability to continue enriching uranium has been a sticking point in past rounds of talks.

Iran has insisted it’s not seeking nuclear weapons, but won’t give up its enrichment capabilities.

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018, capped Iran’s uranium enrichment at about 3.67 percent purity, enough to power a nuclear reactor.

Since 2018, Iran has steadily increased its uranium enrichment. In February, the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency assessed that Iran has stockpiled about 605 pounds (274.8 kilograms) of 60-percent enriched uranium. Iran would need to enrich uranium to 90 percent to achieve weapons-grade fissile material.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled that the United States would support a deal whereby Iran can import low-enriched uranium to sustain its energy sector but must give up its domestic enrichment capabilities.

Ahead of Friday’s talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not agree to discontinue its uranium enrichment program.

“Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal,” Abbas wrote in a May 22 post on the social media platform X. “Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal.”

Trump has signaled he’s open to taking more aggressive action if Iran doesn’t make a deal. In March, as Trump ramped up the pressure, he warned, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.”

Special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. Department of State’s policy planning director, Michael Anton, are representing the United States in the fifth round of talks.