Iranian state television announced that upcoming nuclear talks will be held in Italy, with Oman maintaining its role as mediator. This announcement coincides with the acceptance of Mohammad Javad Zarif's resignation as Iran's chief negotiator for the 2015 nuclear deal.
President Masoud Bazeshkianha stated that his administration could no longer benefit from Zarif's expertise due to certain issues. Mohsen Esmaeili, a 59-year-old political moderate and legal expert, has been appointed as the new vice president for strategic affairs.
Discrepancies have emerged between Tehran and Washington regarding the format and location of the negotiations. While Rome offered to host, Tehran insisted on Oman, mirroring the first round. The U.S. has not confirmed the venue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi cautioned the U.S. against contradictory positions during the talks. This followed remarks by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting Iran might resume uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent.
Araqchi emphasized Iran's readiness to build trust but asserted that the principle of enrichment is non-negotiable. Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned that external threats could lead to measures like expelling IAEA inspectors.
IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi arrived in Tehran for talks potentially concerning the agency's inspection powers at Iranian facilities. This visit comes amid threats from Iran to suspend cooperation with the UN agency if the U.S. continues to pressure with military threats.