Top Iranian officials meet in Tehran as talks with US continue in Rome

Rome’s selection as a venue for nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States signals a bid by Italy to position itself as a diplomatic bridge in international crises, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Saturday.

“It recognizes a role that Italy has built up—anchored to historic alliances but open to dialogue with all,” Crosetto said during a visit in Taranto.

He added that Italy can serve as a venue “to build peace, to build security, to help create the conditions—even in parts of the world that feel closer than we realize—for ending conflict, ending war, and, in some way, ending terrorism.”

Israel is the only obstacle to establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying in a meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani on Saturday morning.

Israel is known for possessing dozens of nuclear weapons, although it has never declared itself a nuclear power.

Araghchi, who is in Rome for the second round of talks between Iran and the United States, added that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that the country rejects weapons of mass destruction based on its religious, national, and defensive principles.

"Israel is driving Iranophobia and instability in the Middle East," ISNA semi-official news outlet quoted Araghchi as saying.

It added that Araghchi called on Europe and the international community to adopt a responsible stance free from such stereotypes against Iran.

Iran plans to propose a series of terms for a new nuclear pact, including guarantees from the Trump administration that the United States will not withdraw from any future agreement, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Iran also plans to discuss how its current stockpile of enriched uranium could be managed under a deal, the process for lifting economic sanctions, and its hopes of arranging a high-level visit to Washington, according to Iranian and Arab officials cited by WSJ.

The report added that a spokesman for US envoy Steve Witkoff declined to comment on Iran’s demands but said, “The President has been clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or enrichment program.”

“As we continue to talk, we expect to refine a framework and timetable for working towards a deal that achieves the President’s objectives peacefully,” the spokesman added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday is expected to propose a framework Tehran hopes would ensure the US doesn’t withdraw from a future nuclear pact, the report said citing European and Iranian officials and another person familiar with the Iranian position.

According to these sources, as part of those guarantees, Iran wants the US to cover Tehran’s losses if Washington was to pull out of a deal, the report added.

The timing of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran on April 17—just days before the second round of Tehran-Washington negotiations—has heightened its significance, sending a clear signal to international actors, particularly the United States. The outcome of these nuclear-related talks could directly affect not only the security, defense, and foreign policies of Iran and Saudi Arabia, but also the broader strategic dynamics of the Middle East.

The visit

Prince Khalid bin Salman was accompanied by a high-level 70-member delegation, which included Riyadh’s ambassador to Yemen’s internationally recognized government. According to both sides, discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties, regional stability, and cooperation on shared interests.

This marks only the second visit by a Saudi defense minister to Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the first since Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz's visit in May 1999 during Mohammad Khatami's reformist presidency, which also included a meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Saudi minister's visit came after weeks of threats by President Donald Trump that if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with Washington it can expect some sort of military action.

The trip also coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Moscow and a brief visit to Tehran by IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi, further underscoring the significance of the moment for Iran’s foreign policy.

An assurance of neutrality to Tehran?

Many Iranian media outlets and analysts have highlighted remarks by Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the royal court, regarding the visit’s underlying message.

“Saudi is clearly sending a message to Tehran that it will not be a conduit in any fashion towards an attack on Iran,” Shihabi told the Financial Times about the visit. “The kingdom supports President [Donald] Trump’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis, and doesn’t want a war.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s hardline media outlets have warned of threats to regional states if diplomacy fails and Washington opts for military escalation.

“Saudi Arabia and the UAE also want to stay away from Tehran's possible wrath, while reassuring the global energy markets that in the event of a military conflict between Iran and the US, there will be no threat to the region's energy markets or oil fields,” a commentary by the state broadcaster’s Young Journalists Club (YJC) said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, while committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region, has repeatedly stated that it will deal with any threat to its national sovereignty and territorial integrity throughout the region,” the commentary added.

Possible Saudi mediation between Tehran and Washington

Iranian media also gave broad coverage to a tweet by independent journalist Laura Rozen, citing a regional source who claimed that Riyadh had “offered to host some sort of US-Iran meeting when Trump visits KSA, but it won’t work at this time.”

Referencing Saudi Arabia’s recent role in hosting Ukraine peace talks, a commentary in the reformist Shargh daily said Riyadh may be seeking a similar role in facilitating US-Iran dialogue. “This could enhance Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic standing on both regional and global fronts,” the article said, adding that the outcome of Iran-US negotiations would undoubtedly shape Riyadh’s future security, defense, and diplomatic strategies, and reverberate throughout the Middle East.

Tehran’s potential role in preventing escalation in Yemen

Analysts in Tehran suggest that one of Riyadh’s key goals was to seek Tehran’s help in preventing potential escalation by the Houthis, particularly in retaliation for recent US strikes. A repeat of the 2019 drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities—attributed to the Houthis—remains a major concern.

“Recent US strikes, sometimes carried out without full coordination with its Gulf allies, could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire and spark retaliatory Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, a commentary published by Iran Diplomacy said. “Riyadh knows that the Houthis, while backed by Iran, have independent decision-making powers, but Tehran's influence could be effective in containing their actions.”

Oman has long served as a discreet and trusted intermediary between Tehran and Washington. Its role dates back to the early 2010s, when Muscat hosted secret backchannel talks that ultimately led to the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).

The United States also sees Oman as a discreet and stable mediator with a history of hosting secret talks with Tehran.

Continue reading the analysis here.