US-Iran nuclear weapons talks postponed

Iran has confirmed that the next round of nuclear talks with the US this weekend will be held in Rome after earlier confusion over the location of the negotiations.

Officials initially identified Rome as the host for the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early Tuesday that they would return to Oman.

A report by Iranian state television said Oman would mediate the talks again on Saturday in Rome.

It is reported that Oman's Foreign Minister served as an interlocutor between the two sides in talks last weekend in the capital Muscat.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to carry out air strikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal is not reached.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.

Iranian vice president resigns

The announcement comes after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially approved the resignation of one of his vice presidents, who served as Tehran's chief negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. € news, the Telegraph reports.

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Mohammad Javad Zarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year, but drew criticism from hardliners within the Shiite theocracy, who have long claimed that Zarif has given too much in the negotiations.

"Pezeshkian emphasized that due to several issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said.

The president, by decree, appointed Mohsen Ismail, 59, the new vice president for strategic affairs.

Important to meet with Foreign Minister @araghchi during my temporary visit to Iran. Cooperation with @IAEAorg it is indispensable to provide credible assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program at a time when diplomacy is urgently needed. pic.twitter.com/wlmsghttIK

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 16, 2025

It is reported that in Iran's political system, the president has many vice presidents.

Ismaili is known as a political moderate and legal expert.

By contrast, since the collapse of the nuclear deal in 2018 with the US's unilateral withdrawal from the agreement, Iran has abandoned all restrictions on its program and is enriching uranium to 60% purity - close to weapons-grade levels of 90%.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of international sanctions.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US against taking contradictory positions in the talks. /Telegraph/