Trust gap widens ahead of next US-Iran nuclear talks
With distrust running high on both sides, will this next round of negotiations be the last?
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WASHINGTON — After a week of conflicting signals on Iran’s nuclear program, the Trump administration has squandered some credibility at the negotiating table heading into Saturday's talks in Rome.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are holding a second round of indirect talks, which began last weekend in Muscat, in the wake of Witkoff’s flip-flop on whether the Trump administration would permit the Iranians to enrich a low level of uranium.
Witkoff caused an outcry among Iran hawks Monday night when he told Fox News he was negotiating a deal allowing Iran to maintain 3.67% enrichment, the level needed for civilian nuclear power. The Trump envoy walked back his comments in an X post less than 24 hours later, writing that “Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
