The conversation, the second round of negotiations in recent times, is being held in Rome on Saturday – under Omani mediation.
We will participate in tomorrow's negotiations, although we have serious reservations about the US's intentions and reasons, said Araghchi at a press conference in Moscow with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Araghchi also turned to Lavrov and thanked him for Russian support.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced earlier in the week that all issues related to Iran's defense capabilities should be kept out of the talks.
Moscow will assist
Tehran also closed the door to discussions about reducing uranium enrichment in Iran – which was a requirement from the US envoy Steven Witkoff.
Lavrov backed Iran ahead of the talks.
Moscow will assist in all ways that support Iran's viewpoint and are (at the same time) acceptable to the US, he said at the joint press conference.
Steadfast course
From Israel, other tones are emerging. Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier threats of military action against Iran:
The Prime Minister and I, together with other relevant actors, stand firm in taking a steadfast course of action that prevents Iran from accessing nuclear weapons.
The US is expected to be represented by, among others, the special envoy Witkoff at the talks in Rome. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, on a visit to Paris on Friday, said he hopes that the talks with Iran "bear fruit".
We would prefer a peaceful and sustainable solution, said Rubio.
