Iran, Europeans share conflicting reports on upcoming nuclear talks

The next round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks will again take place in Muscat, Oman, Iran’s state-run news agency reported. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Monday said indirect negotiations would resume Saturday, April 19.

But other sources indicated the talks were moving to Europe. Iraqi state news on Monday quoted Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, as saying that the next round of talks would be hosted in Rome and mediated by Oman. Another Iranian official said the talks would be moved to Europe, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Italian and Dutch diplomats also said talks would be in Rome, according to the Associated Press. American leaders had not said where the meetings would take place as of Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei downplayed the importance of the talks in a series of posts Tuesday morning. He said the talks were only one of several Foreign Ministry priorities. He also said Iran should work on increasing domestic production to get around sanctions and that he wants to expand trade partnerships with India, Russia, and China.

How did the first round of talks go? The envoys discussed a nuclear deal as well as the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, Baqaei said. Araghchi said the talks were constructive and respectful. The White House also called the talks constructive. The talks stayed indirect with Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, shuttling between Iranian and U.S. delegations conveying messages, Iranian state media said. Khamenei on Tuesday said the talks had gone well so far but that Iran very much distrusted the United States.

What’s the status of Iran’s nuclear program? Araghchi recently reiterated Iran’s claim that it has never sought, developed, or bought nuclear weapons. But the International Atomic Energy Agency, which regularly investigates Iran’s compliance with nuclear treaties, in February found the country had not fully reported its nuclear capability. Iran seemed to be refining uranium in greater quantities and in more locations than it disclosed, according to the agency.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he will travel to Iran later this week to review its nuclear program.