Hopes in Iranian nuclear talks that are reduced by threats and mixed messages

While Iran and the United States are preparing to hold a second round of high -risk nuclear talks in Rome, the hopes for canceling the escalation are reduced by the escalation of military threats and mixed messages.

US President Donald Trump, Tehran, almost every day reminds his options: a deal or war.

He has already said that Israel would lead a military response if the talks fail.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Trump “plans” an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites early next month.

“I will not say that I was not in a hurry to do so,” Trump told reporters in response to the article on Thursday.

“I think Iran has an opportunity to get a wonderful country and live happily without death … This is my first choice. If there is another option, I think it will be very bad for Iran.”

After both sides described the first round of the talks in Amman at the end of last week as a constructive, Trump said he would “make a decision on Iran very quickly.”

In 2018, Trump removed the United States from the 2015 agreement, which Iran had limited its nuclear activities and allowing inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange for the relief of sanctions.

He said that he did very little to stop Iran’s potential path to a nuclear weapon and restore US sanctions as part of the “maximum pressure” campaign to force Iran to negotiate a new deal.

However, Iran rejected the restrictions imposed on revenge. He has now stored enough uranium very fertilized to make many bombs if you choose to do this – something he says he will never do.

The threat of military action seems to play a role in returning Iran to the negotiating table. However, he insists that this is not the reason.

Iran on the Internet told the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khounai, that Iran agreed to the talks only because the United States has strictly limited its demands for nuclear issues – and not for fear of us and the Israeli strikes.

However, reaching an agreement remains out of certain.

Trump’s private envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkeov, who leads the negotiating team in the United States, was published on X on Tuesday: “It should put any final arrangement a framework for peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East – which means that Iran must stop and eliminate the nuclear and weapons program.”

This came only one day after his proposal in an interview with Fox News that Iran is allowed to continue enriching uranium.

“They don’t need to enrich 3.67 %,” he said, referring to the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal.

“This will be a lot about checking the enrichment program and then at the end of the weapons.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, head of the Iranian delegation, responded by referring to “contradictory statements” to Witkoff and confirms that “the real positions will be clarified at the negotiating table.”

“We are ready to build confidence in possible concerns about the enrichment of Iran, but the principle of enrichment is not negotiable,” he said.

Talks come on Saturday in Rome amid a wave of diplomatic activity.

The Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Tehran on Thursday, where he presented a personal message from his father, King Salman, to Ayatollah Khounai. He also met the President of Iran, Masoud Bezishian.

Iran has warned that any American military action will be met by revenge on the American bases in the region – many of them hosted by Iran’s Arab neighbors.

Meanwhile, Araghchi visited Moscow and gave a speech from my cloud to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iran and Russia have strengthened their military relations since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with a tension accused of providing drones to support Moscow’s military effort.

The Russian parliament believed a 20 -year strategic partnership between Iran and Russia 10 days ago. However, the deal does not include a mutual defense condition.

Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has completed a two -day visit to Tehran this week, where he met Iranian nuclear officials and the Foreign Minister in an attempt to reduce tensions and restore inspection protocols.

Since Trump has returned to his post this year, Ayatollah Khamni has constantly condemned negotiations with Washington.

He said in a letter in February: “Negotiating with this administration is not logical, nor a wise or a supervisor,” he said in a letter in February.

The lack of confidence of the highest leader from Trump’s withdrawal stems from the nuclear deal, the “maximum pressure” campaign that followed, and the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in an American blow in Iraq in 2020.

Ayatollah Khounai expressed his satisfaction with the first round of the talks, saying that it was “well implemented.”

But he warned that “he was neither excessively optimistic nor very pessimistic.”

He previously warned that Iran will be discussed in the event of strikes on its nuclear program.

Some officials, including its advisor, Ali Larijani, said that Iran may “be forced” to obtain a nuclear weapon if it was attacked.

“We do not follow weapons, and we have no problem overseeing the International Atomic Energy Agency – even indefinitely. But if it does not resort to bombing, Iran will have no choice but to reconsider. This is not in your interest.”

Each side pays its own novel on how to hold conversations.

The United States says it is direct. Iran says it is indirect, and that Oman mediates by exchanging written notes.

After the first round of Muscat, Aragici admitted that he had a short exchange with Witkeov “outside diplomatic courtesy” after crossing the tracks.

The American news website Axios, noting that two negotiators had spoken for up to 45 minutes.

Tehran prefers secrecy. Washington is seeking advertising.

After the two sides developed positive data about the first round, Iran’s currency increased by 20 %.

Iran’s leadership is well aware of the general discontent over the harsh economic conditions in the country – and the possibility of protests that may lead to it.

For the Islamic Republic, fear is not only on bombs – it is also protests.