As US talks loom in Rome, Tehran says enrichment and defense off limits

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, whose country is mediating Tehran-Washington negotiations due to resume in Rome on Saturday, met with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani on Friday.

During the meeting in Rome, Tajani said, “Italy fully supports Oman’s mediation between the United States and Iran.”

The Italian top diplomat said his country was ready to support any new initiative aimed at international peace and stability given the numerous political and security challenges and the instability in the Middle East.

"What is officially conveyed during the negotiations will be considered Washington’s position — not the conflicting remarks made by American officials in the media," the Iranian state TV's newspaper Jame Jam reported Friday citing an informed political source.

“The continued use of threatening language against Iran will have a damaging effect on the negotiation process and may prompt Iran to reconsider the proposals it puts forward,” the newspaper quoted the source as saying a day before the second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States.

"In return for nuclear transparency, Iran will pursue the lifting of sanctions and the realization of economic benefits for the country, and is now awaiting the counter-proposals from the other side."

"The Iranian people have gained nothing from this nuclear energy program and the goals pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran, except for bearing its negative consequences and harmful effects," Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi said on Friday.

"(The nuclear program) only has negatively affected lives of the people since they were affected by heavy sanctions ... The sanctions have weakened the regime as well, that’s true, but the truth is that it has also weakened the Iranian society," she added in an interview with Iranian journalist Sima Sabet.

Mohammadi, who is currently on temporary medical leave from prison, continued, "For years there has been concern that the Islamic Republic's pursuit of nuclear weapons could turn the Iranian people into hostages in the hands of the regime."

"In this sense, losing this capability—which has brought no tangible benefit to the people's well-being or progress—could actually open up an opportunity for them to be freed from a deeply troubling situation."

As the Iranian and American delegations prepare to arrive in Rome for their second round of indirect negotiations, the venue of the talks has yet to be announced. Foreign and domestic news outlets reported various possibilities for their location.

Italy's Agenzia Nova cited sources as saying a hotel in central Rome will host the discussions, which will be led by Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

However, Huffington Post reported that the talks will be held at the Omani ambassador's residence in Via della Camilluccia, northern Rome.

Italian daily Corriere Della Sera reported the talks would be held either in a Rome hotel or the Omani envoy's residence.

Earlier this week, Iran initially decided to designate Muscat as the venue for the second round after Italy rejected Tehran’s request to hold the talks at the Omani embassy in Rome, two informed sources told Iran International.

The Italian side reportedly preferred that the talks take place under the auspices of the Italian government in Rome, the sources added.

However, Iran ultimately agreed to hold the talks in Rome, with Muscat continuing to act as the mediator.

Iran marked its National Army Day on Friday with military parades across the country.

In addition to formations of soldiers, Iran's armed forces displayed dozens of unmanned reconnaissance and combat aircraft as well as various types as tanks, artillery, missiles and vessels at sea.

"With Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon," US President Donald Trump told reporters in the White House on Friday.

"And if they have a nuclear weapon, you'll all be very unhappy. You'll all be very unhappy because your life will be in great danger."

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the Russian leader has promised his country's relations with Tehran would not be impacted by Russia's relations with the United States.

"Russia–US relations have their own unique characteristics," Araghchi said during his visit to Moscow.

"What matters is that both the Russian President and Foreign Minister have assured us that their country’s relationship with Iran will not be influenced by any other country."

Iran's exiled prince on Friday urged the United States not to clinch an Iran nuclear deal which he said would rescue the Islamic Republic.

“These nuclear talks will not bring peace to the Middle East," Prince Reza Pahlavi said in a statement published by his X account. "This regime does not negotiate in good faith. It uses diplomacy as a tactic—to buy time, ease pressure, and tighten its grip on power."

Nuclear talks with Tehran "will throw a lifeline to a crumbling dictatorship and prolong its export of terror and chaos," the US-based prince said.

"The Islamic Republic is at its weakest point in 46 years. Its leadership is fractured. Its economy is in free fall. Its people are rising. In just the past few weeks, protests have erupted again across the country. Change is already happening. This is not the time to rescue a dying regime."

A US air strike targeting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement killed at least 74 people and injured 171 according to the health ministry controlled by the group, in what would be the deadliest American strike yet in an ongoing military campaign.

The attack targeted Yemen's Ras Isa fuel port on Yemen's Western Red Sea coast, US Central Command said in a statement on X.

"The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," CENTCOM said.

"The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organization."

US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a phone call on Friday discussed a range of issues including Iran and the US military action against Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen, the British prime minister's office said.