US and Iran Gear Up for Third Round of Nuclear Talks After 'Very Good Progress'

The United States and Iran are heading back to the negotiating table for a third round of nuclear talks later this week in Muscat, Oman, building on what officials described as "very good progress" during their recent meeting in Italy.

Although the specifics of what was discussed remain under wraps, a senior US official said the second round—which lasted over four hours in Rome—saw both direct and indirect discussions make significant headway. The official also thanked Omani intermediaries for facilitating and Italy for hosting the talks, proving once again that diplomacy sometimes needs a scenic location.

Reports indicate that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even had a face-to-face exchange, their second in as many weeks. However, not all the talks have been direct, despite earlier US insistence that they would be. Iran had rejected that format, suggesting both sides are already getting a taste of compromise before the main course is served.

As for what exactly Witkoff and Araghchi discussed, that remains a mystery—perhaps the only thing more guarded than Iran's nuclear facilities. Araghchi did share a cautiously optimistic take, citing a "relatively positive atmosphere" in Rome that allowed progress on the principles of a potential deal. He also made it clear that many in Iran view the old nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, as yesterday's news, with only "lessons learned" to show for it. Honestly, it's not every day you see both sides essentially sigh at the same deal.

Expert-level talks are set to kick off soon, aiming to hammer out the elusive details. Araghchi warned that any optimism should be paired with a "great deal of caution"—which, let's be real, is probably the unofficial dress code at these negotiations.

It’s still unclear how these new talks will differ from the original 2015 JCPOA, which was abandoned by the Trump administration. But urgency is in the air, with security experts warning that Iran's nuclear program has advanced well beyond where it was a decade ago. According to retired Gen. Jack Keane, Iran now has the ability to produce advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to weapons grade in weeks, not years. Oh, and they have ballistic missiles to deliver them. No pressure, right?

The US is now tasked not only with convincing Iran to give up its near-weapons-grade uranium—enough for five bombs if pushed further—but also to dismantle its manufacturing capacity. Experts are quick to caution that any agreement can't just be a remix of the old deal; the stakes are higher, and the clock is ticking a lot faster.