5th round of Iran-US talks to take place in Rome

The fifth round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran is expected to be held in Rome on Friday, May 23, although the location of the talks has yet to be announced.

Public speculation suggests the venue might still be the Omani Embassy in Italy, where the second round of U.S.-Iran talks took place on April 19, but it could also be the Italian Foreign Ministry or another secure location.

Unlike the first four rounds, where both sides found the talks positive and productive, the atmosphere before this round is highly tense due to the U.S. and Iran's refusal to compromise on core issues.

Recently, U.S. officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease its uranium enrichment activities, a request that Tehran has firmly rejected, insisting the issue is "non-negotiable."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Thursday there will be no nuclear agreement if the United States seeks to ban Iran's uranium enrichment. He emphasized that Iran would not give up its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.

5th round of Iran-US talks to take place in Rome

5th round of Iran-US talks to take place in Rome

5th round of Iran-US talks to take place in Rome

5th round of Iran-US talks to take place in Rome

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that its forces had seized six more settlements in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, while Ukraine claimed the same day that its forces had attacked a Russian oil refinery.

In its latest report, the ministry said that over the past 24 hours, Russian forces had taken control of four settlements in the Donetsk region and two in the Zaporizhzhia region. It added that Russian forces struck energy facilities serving Ukraine's military-industrial enterprises and that the country's air defense systems shot down 370 Ukrainian drones.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report issued at 20:00 Sunday that over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces had carried out strikes on Russian targets, including assembly areas and command posts. It added that Ukrainian troops had repelled Russian offensives in the Slobozhansk, Kupyansk and Liman directions.

Ukrainian forces also said they launched an attack on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region early in the morning, sparking a fire.

Russia reports capturing 6 more settlements, Ukraine says it struck Russian oil refinery