Muscat-Rome talks, an uncertain and uncertain future

In the first round, after several hours of indirect talks, the parties expressed satisfaction with the process of exchanging views and opinions and announced that the next round of talks will be held in Oman on the following Saturday, 19 April 2025.
During this week, despite the optimism expressed by both sides about the positive progress of the Muscat talks, on the one hand, there was a lot of media and expert analysis and commentary about the demands of both sides and which one had the upper hand, and on the other hand, American officials from the president to the secretary of state, members of Congress, and even the Israeli prime minister, each made comments.
For example, Trump said in one of his speeches: “All I’m saying is that you can’t have nuclear weapons. I’m not saying that I’ve ruled out attacking Iran, but I’m in no hurry to do so.”
Or the Israeli prime minister said: “The minimum outcome of the negotiations should be that Iran’s nuclear program is completely dismantled.”

Diplomatic moves in the region
In addition to these comments, the region also witnessed a series of diplomatic moves; back and forths that were mostly an attempt to exert more influence at the negotiating table. Including the visit of Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to Iran; the visit of Steve Witkoff, the chief US negotiator, to the occupied territories and meeting with Netanyahu; the visit of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia and conveying an important message from Imam Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin; the meeting of Sayyid Abbas Araqchi with the Foreign Minister of Qatar in Moscow; the visit of Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, to Tehran and the delivery of a written letter from the King of Saudi Arabia to Imam Khamenei, in which Iran and Saudi Arabia were introduced as the two pillars of regional security and the King of Saudi Arabia's desire to further expand relations with Iran was emphasized.

Developments on the ground
Significant developments also occurred on the ground; the day before the negotiations, the Yemeni armed forces carried out their heaviest attacks against American aggressors at sea and in space; including the downing of an MQ-9 drone and the attack on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which took place for the first time since the beginning of the conflict.
In Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq, rumors of disarmament of resistance groups have also been circulating in recent days; however, in Gaza, the Islamic resistance movement Hamas has explicitly stated that it strongly rejects handing over weapons for the purpose of negotiating with the Zionist regime.
In Iraq, contrary to the widespread media rumors, Mr. Faleh Al-Fayyadh, head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, stated at a ceremony to honor officers of the military academy: “Today we are at a new stage in the history of this organization, and that is the stage of establishing the Popular Mobilization Forces as an official institution.” Al-Fayyadh rejected rumors of the dissolution of the Popular Mobilization Forces and announced its official recognition as one of the Iraqi armed forces.
In Lebanon, the Americans and the Zionist regime have tried and are still trying in various ways to pressure the Lebanese president to disarm Hezbollah; An issue that was categorically rejected by the speech of Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the day before the second round of Iran-US talks. He declared the weapons of resistance a red line and warned that disarming Hezbollah was an impossible option.

America seeks to impose minimal demands
Therefore, the outcome of the statements of American and Zionist officials, regional diplomatic movements, and the field situation of the resistance forces show that America has made and is making every effort to impose minimal demands - minimal because, given the international conditions, the internal situation of the United States, and the position and military-defense capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is not possible to make maximal demands - on the Iranian side.
In light of what has been mentioned, this serious question now arises: Are the Americans really seeking a real negotiation and reaching a serious and binding agreement for both sides this time, under the leadership of Trump?
But what adds to the complexity of the negotiations are the contradictory, scattered and mostly hasty positions of American politicians. The change of location of the negotiations from Muscat to Rome is also another important question mark: is the United States really looking for an agreement or is it pursuing other specific goals with these moves?

Iran is ready to reach an agreement with reasonable demands, away from pressure and threats
From all the analyses and interpretations so far, no definitive opinion has been presented about the success or failure of the negotiations. Of course, the position of the Iranian side, considering its declared policies, is clear: if the American side enters the talks with a serious view and with reasonable demands, away from dominance, pressure and threats, the Islamic Republic of Iran will also be ready to reach an agreement.

In any case, the second round of negotiations yesterday was held, once again with the mediation of Oman but in Rome, the capital of Italy. Mr. Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, announced after the end of the negotiations: “The negotiations are moving forward; "But there is no room for extreme optimism, nor is there reason for extreme pessimism."
According to the agreement, technical teams from both sides will meet next Wednesday, and high-ranking delegations from both countries will arrive next Saturday for the third round of talks.