Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service.

Coming to you live from London, I'm James Kamara Sami.

And we begin today in Rome, where a second round of talks between Iran and the United States is underway,

following last week's initial indirect discussions in Oman, which were described as constructive.

Once again, the Omanis are acting as intermediaries between delegations

led by Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arachi, and Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Whitkoff,

a man he seems to be negotiating everything, everywhere, almost all at once.

Tirana said it is open to limiting its nuclear program as long as Washington

is realistic. Foreign Minister Araghi was speaking after a meeting in Moscow with his Russian

counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side,

in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations with the seriousness of the Islamic Republic of Iran and full determination.

We are fully prepared to pursue a peaceful resolution

for Iran's peaceful nuclear program. If there is similar willingness on the other side,

and they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement

is likely. Well, there have been conflicting messages about what the Trump administration is prepared to accept,

but also speaking on Friday, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized its bottom line.

The President's made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon that is not going to happen.

We're hoping that talks continue and that they're fruitful

and that they can lead to something.

We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one.

It has to be something that actually not just prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon now,

...