Iran and US Negotiations; Do All Roads Lead to Rome?

The root of the famous proverb "all roads lead to Rome" can be traced back to the vast network of roads during the Roman Empire. These routes brought Iranian and American diplomats to this city centuries later, giving the proverb a precise conceptual meaning; with such a transformation, all eyes are fixed on the Italian capital, which will be the main center of a story. As announced, one week after the first meeting, Steve Witkoff, the special representative of the President of the United States, and Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, are heading to the Italian capital to continue their second round of negotiations, either in person or remotely. At first glance, many expressed surprise at the choice of Rome as the venue for the negotiations. Various cities in Western Europe, including the two cities that host UN offices, Geneva and Vienna, have hosted meetings between the parties. Additionally, other Swiss cities, Lausanne and Montreux, as well as cities like Munich (on the sidelines of the security conference), were among the hosts of the negotiations. However, the historical city of Rome has characteristics that justify this choice: Negotiations between Iran and the US; a quarter-century of "direct" and "indirect" relations. One of the issues raised following the Muscat meeting was the long distance of this city from the US capital. Some observers pointed out that if negotiations continue, their intensification and the need for multiple trips would make Oman unsuitable for both parties. Therefore, discussions about choosing a city in Western Europe began even before the Muscat meeting. Among the capitals of Western Europe, three cities—London, Paris, and Berlin—could not be considered ideal options for various reasons from both sides; especially considering that Britain, France, and Germany (the European troika) are still involved with Iran in the JCPOA, which Donald Trump exited in 2018 and has no desire to return to. On the other hand, Iranians are also concerned about these three countries potentially using the "snapback mechanism." The other two cities, Geneva and Vienna, which host UN offices, are tied to the JCPOA process, and the current US administration is not particularly constrained by proximity to international processes through the UN. Therefore, the Italian capital emerged as one of the preferred options for both parties. Rome, at a distance of seven thousand kilometers from Washington, D.C., and 3,500 kilometers from Tehran, can at least provide a few hours less flight time for Steve Witkoff. However, the route for Abbas Araghchi will not be direct, as direct flights from Tehran to Italy have recently been suspended like many other European cities. Iranian Perspectives on Iran-US Negotiations; Anxiety, Hope, or Pessimism? Is Oman a Neutral Host? The Sultanate of Oman has played a mediating role between Iran and the US for decades, having hosted numerous backdoor talks between officials of the two countries and playing an active and effective role in this regard. However, perhaps the structure of this country, which has a closed political system, limited access, and media that do not have the freedom to operate, is one reason why it has been a suitable option for hosting negotiations in the Persian Gulf. Hamidreza Azizi, an analyst at the Institute for Science and Security in Berlin, states: "From the US side, it seems that the Omani approach has been evaluated as closer to the Iranian position, including in terms of media protocols, where Iran's desire was for no photos or details to be published, which was not the desire of the United States." Therefore, Muscat might have been a suitable option for backdoor meetings similar to those that took place during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's last year in office, but today, as news of these talks becomes the headlines of international media moment by moment, it does not provide a suitable atmosphere; although this country is still expected to play a mediating role in these discussions. The right-wing government of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, is considered one of Donald Trump's allies in a fragmented Europe. While disputes between Europe and the US over tariffs, the Ukraine war, NATO budgets, and views on Russia are ongoing, this member of the G7 has shown a favorable attitude towards some of Trump's policies, and there are clear similarities in the domestic policy approaches of both governments; including a focus on issues surrounding immigration and family values. Regarding Iran, Trump had met with the Italian Prime Minister before entering the White House, which led to the release of the Italian journalist imprisoned in Tehran, Cecilia Sala, in January 2024. At that time, reports from Italian media indicated that Giorgia Meloni, during a brief visit to Mar-a-Lago, managed to delay the extradition of an Iranian to the US accused of violating sanctions. Mohammad Abedini was released from prison after the Italian journalist's release in Tehran and returned to Iran. The Italian Prime Minister not only has close relations with the US President but also, despite expressing critical positions regarding the Islamic Republic's performance in human rights and the suppression of protesters in 2022 or European security, was among the few European leaders who officially expressed condolences for the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation in a helicopter accident. What Happened in the First Round of Iran-US Negotiations in Oman. However, the relationship between Tehran and Rome is much deeper and longer than the premiership of Giorgia Meloni, who has been Prime Minister for about three years. Iran and Italy not only identify with each other due to their ancient historical ties but also, in recent decades, Italy has always been one of Iran's main trading partners in the EU. According to available statistics, Italy has been Iran's second trading partner after Germany at various times of sanctions prior to the JCPOA and even in recent years. This position was one of the most important reasons that, after Iran and the world powers reached a nuclear agreement, Rome was the first European destination for Hassan Rouhani, the then President, before Paris and Bern. However, Italy has had to comply with EU sanctions at various times and, in one of the most recent examples, was forced to suspend Iran Air flights to Rome.