Axios: Second round of US-Iran talks to be held on April 19 in Rome

The next round of consultations between the United States and Iran on Tehran's nuclear program is scheduled for April 19 in Rome, Barak Ravid, a journalist for America’s Axios information portal, said, citing sources, Report informs.

"The 2nd round of the US-Iran nuclear talks on Saturday is going to take place in Rome after all, three sources tell me," he wrote on X.

According to Axios, US President Donald Trump’s administration is split on Iran policy. The first camp is peace-oriented, represented by Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steven Witkoff and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, which believes that the deal requires a diplomatic solution with possible concessions from Washington.

The other camp, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, is extremely skeptical about the likelihood of Tehran curtailing its nuclear program even if it strikes a deal with Washington, believing that Tehran is now weaker than ever, and the United States should insist that it abandon its nuclear program completely. If it refuses, they support either American or Israeli strikes on the country.

Earlier, official representative of Iran’s Foreign Ministry Ismail Baghi said that the next round of negotiations would be held in the capital of Oman on April 19. Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the consultations would take place in Rome.

On April 12, indirect talks were held in Oman between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Muscat. Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and the United States by US special envoy Steven Witkoff. Iran said the meeting was constructive and held in a calm atmosphere. It said that Witkoff and Araghchi, leaving the place of negotiations, talked for several minutes in the presence of the Omani foreign minister.