U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that she held a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran.
“President Trump specifically sent me to speak with the prime minister about the progress of these talks and to emphasize the importance of maintaining a united front while the process continues,” Noem said during an appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends. “It was a very candid conversation.”
Her remarks come on the heels of a fifth round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, recently concluded in Rome, which have reportedly yielded modest progress. President Trump commented on Sunday that the negotiations had made “serious progress,” adding that a sixth round is scheduled.
Meanwhile, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed that the next round of talks will also take place in Rome on Friday, ending widespread speculation about the location of the upcoming session. Oman has been playing a key mediating role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
In Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei clarified that no interim deal is currently being discussed. “We have never sought military nuclear capabilities,” he said. “If the U.S. goal is to ensure Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful, that is achievable.”
However, he warned that Iran would not accept terms aimed at stripping it of its rights, including the right to enrich uranium at low levels. “If the negotiations are meant to deny Iran its basic rights, they will not succeed,” Baqaei stated.
He also firmly rejected international media reports suggesting Iran might agree to suspend enrichment for three years as part of a compromise deal. “No, there is absolutely nothing like this on the table,” he asserted.
The renewed diplomatic push follows President Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with a promise to pursue a “better” agreement.
