New Delhi— India on Thursday described the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran as a “positive development,” expressing hope that the talks would help resolve longstanding issues and contribute to regional peace and stability.
“We see the ongoing US-Iran talks as a positive development. We have always stood for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward on such issues,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during a weekly media briefing. “We hope it will lead to the resolution of the matter, to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned, and contribute to peace and stability in the region.”
The comments come ahead of the second round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the venue, stating in a televised interview that there had been no request to change the location.
Despite the shift in venue from Muscat, Oman will continue to serve as mediator and facilitator for the discussions. The talks focus on Iran’s nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are expected to take part in the Rome negotiations, continuing the dialogue that began last week in Muscat.
Witkoff, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), laid out the U.S. position ahead of the second round, stating that any agreement must require Iran to completely halt and dismantle its nuclear enrichment program.
“A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal,” Witkoff said. “Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East—meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization programme. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”
This firm stance appeared to contradict earlier comments from Witkoff, who had suggested a limited level of uranium enrichment might be allowed.
The ongoing negotiations come amid renewed efforts to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark nuclear deal signed by Iran and six world powers—Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. The agreement placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, in 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA under then-President Donald Trump, reinstating sanctions that prompted Iran to roll back its nuclear commitments. Since then, multiple efforts to restore the deal have stalled, and tensions have remained high.
The current talks, reportedly proposed by Trump himself, have been accompanied by threats of secondary sanctions and potential military action should Iran refuse to cooperate.
India, which has long maintained strong diplomatic relations with both Iran and the United States, continues to advocate for peaceful dialogue as a means to resolve international disputes and maintain regional stability. (Source: IANS)
