Iran says fifth round of U.S. talks is 'most professional' so far

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the fifth round of Iran-U.S. indirect talks was "one of the most professional rounds."

"I think the American side at present has a better and more clear understanding of our positions," Araghchi told Iran's state-run IRIB TV at the end of the fifth round held earlier in the day in Rome.

Different ideas were discussed in the fifth round, and it was decided that the two sides would further review the ideas and make arrangements for the next round, which will hopefully "enter details to some extent" if both sides accept new solutions, he said.

The indirect talks will not conclude in two or three rounds due to their complexity, said the foreign minister, adding that "the fact that we are now treading along a reasonable path is (a kind of) progress."

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on the social media platform X that the fifth round was held in a "calm and professional" atmosphere, and the date and venue of the next round will be decided and announced later.

Also on Friday, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said on X that the fifth round has concluded "with some but not conclusive progress."

The fifth round of talks, led by Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, lasted over three hours. Previously, the two sides held four rounds of Oman-mediated indirect talks starting from April on Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions – three of which were held in Oman's Muscat and one in Rome.

In recent days, U.S. officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran.