Moscow May Gain Key Role in Iran Nuclear Deal as Indirect Talks With US Continue

Russia could play a key role in a deal on the future of Iran's nuclear programme, with Moscow being touted not only as a possible destination for Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, but also as a possible arbiter of deal breaches.

- Patrick Wintour

Donald Trump, who abandoned a 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and world powers in 2018 during his first term, has threatened to attack Iran unless it reaches a new deal swiftly that would prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.

Four hours of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Rome on Saturday, under the mediation of Oman, made significant progress, according to US officials. Further talks are due in Geneva this week, followed by a high-level diplomatic meeting next weekend in Oman.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who was at the heart of the Rome talks, wants an agreement wrapped up in 60 days, but is likely to face resistance from Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, who believes the levels of distrust and the technical nature of the talks make such a swift agreement unlikely.

The two most daunting issues are the storage or destruction of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and the external guarantees that could be provided to Iran if the US were to breach an agreement to lift sanctions in return for Iran putting its civil nuclear programme back under external supervision by the UN inspectorate, the IAEA. Iran wants a guarantee of consequences for the US if it breaches another deal.