Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Wednesday that Tehran and Washington will hold a fourth round of nuclear negotiations in Rome this Saturday, as part of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme. The talks, mediated by Oman, represent the most significant engagement between the two rivals in recent years.
The discussions, which began on April 12, are aimed at reviving stalled efforts around Iran’s nuclear activities, which the West suspects are linked to nuclear weapons development—claims that Iran strongly denies.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Araghchi also confirmed that Iranian officials will meet on Friday with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — all signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord.
That agreement, which promised sanction relief in return for limits on Iran’s nuclear programme, collapsed in 2018 when the United States withdrew under then-President Donald Trump.
Recently, France warned that the European parties might reimpose sanctions, prompting Iran’s mission to the United Nations to issue a sharp rebuke. In a statement carried by Iran’s ISNA news agency, the mission condemned “threats and economic blackmail,” insisting that real diplomacy must take place “without pressure or coercion.”
Earlier this year, Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing renewed talks and warning of potential military consequences if Tehran refused. Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” sanctions policy, reminiscent of his first term.
Iran maintains that negotiations should remain strictly focused on nuclear issues and the lifting of economic sanctions. Both sides indicated progress was made during their last meeting in Muscat, Oman, held this past Saturday.
Iran Executes Alleged Mossad Spy Over 2022 Killing
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad and playing a role in the 2022 assassination of a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer, the judiciary announced.
Mohsen Langarneshin, described as a “high-ranking spy” supporting Mossad activities inside Iran, was hanged on Wednesday morning, according to Mizan Online, the judiciary’s news outlet.
Details about Langarneshin’s arrest or trial were not disclosed. However, authorities linked him to the May 2022 murder of Colonel Sayyad Khodaei, who was shot by two assailants on motorcycles in Tehran.
The New York Times reported that Israel informed the U.S. of its involvement in Khodaei’s assassination. Iranian officials allege that Langarneshin purchased a motorcycle to track the colonel’s movements.
Khodaei was reportedly a member of the IRGC’s Quds Force, responsible for overseas operations, and was known for his involvement in Syria, where Iran had supported the Assad regime militarily.
Iran regularly reports arrests and executions of individuals accused of spying, especially those alleged to be working with Israel. In December 2023, another man was executed for alleged Mossad ties, following the execution of four others in 2022 on similar charges.
