Fri Apr 18 03:04:29 UTC 2025: ## Iran-US Nuclear Talks Reach Crucial Stage Amidst Regional Tensions

**Dubai, April 18, 2025** – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi declared that talks between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program are at a critical juncture. Grossi, currently visiting Iran, emphasized the IAEA’s crucial role in verifying any potential agreement. A new round of talks between Iran and the U.S. is scheduled for Saturday in Rome, following an initial meeting in Oman.

Grossi’s visit coincides with a historic visit to Tehran by Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, the highest-ranking Saudi official to visit Iran since a Chinese-mediated détente in 2023. This visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to end its conflict with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite an ongoing intensified U.S. airstrike campaign against the rebels.

The heightened stakes are underscored by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities should a deal fail to materialize. Iranian officials have warned of pursuing nuclear weapons development, given their stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium. While President Trump acknowledged the possibility of an attack, he expressed a preference for a peaceful resolution.

Grossi, while acknowledging the urgency and the significant amount of material Iran possesses to construct multiple nuclear weapons, urged focus on achieving a positive outcome in the negotiations. He emphasized the importance of securing all necessary elements for a successful agreement. Iranian officials, meanwhile, expect the IAEA to maintain impartiality and professionalism.

The visit by Prince Khalid bin Salman, the first by a Saudi Defence Minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, marks a significant step in improving relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. His meetings included discussions with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, focusing on bilateral relations and shared interests. The visit underscores a growing regional shift, despite ongoing tensions. The UN expressed hope that the upcoming Iran-U.S. talks will lead to de-escalation in the Gulf region.

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