Iran and US conclude second round of negotiations

The second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program ended on Saturday after several hours of talks, American and Iranian officials confirmed.

There was no statement on how the talks at the Omani embassy in Rome went. A vehicle carrying US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, left the embassy compound, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was seen leaving minutes later.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state television immediately after the negotiations that Iran "will continue the path of talks seriously" in order to guarantee the lifting of economic sanctions, the AP news agency reports.

"Iran will continue as long as the talks are conducted in a constructive and purposeful manner," he added.

Iranian officials have described the talks as indirect, like the initial ones held last weekend in Muscat, Oman.

Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers during his first term in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran. He has revived the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran since returning to office in January.