Nournews: While Rome is once again hosting the tense fifth round of talks between Iran and the U.S. today, the Israeli variable is not only present but unprecedentedly central to the dynamics. On the surface, these negotiations appear to be between two long-standing adversaries over technical and legal aspects of the nuclear case. However, behind the scenes, the reality is far more complex than a bilateral negotiation; in this scenario, Israel is not merely a spectator but a key player.
The recent threats of military strikes against Iran, disseminated through media outlets like Axios, Reuters, CNN, and The Times of Israel, are only part of a larger show—a calculated psychological game aimed at influencing the negotiation process. The media have become tools for sending a message: if Tehran doesn’t yield, smoke will rise from its nuclear facilities. But this game of threats goes beyond mere psychological pressure at the negotiating table.
The simultaneous presence of the Mossad chief and Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs in Rome—on the very day of the talks and near the residence of Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff—provides definitive evidence of the Zionist regime’s direct interference in the negotiations.
Israel has always had access to information through multiple channels during the negotiations, but now it is no longer just a listener—it is actively present on the ground, face-to-face with Witkoff and operating in the shadows of consultations. This trend has intensified since the start of the new round of talks under the Trump administration, particularly from the second round in March. A clear example was the Paris meeting between the Israeli delegation and Witkoff a day before the second round of talks, and the presence of Israeli sources in the hotel housing the American delegation on the day of the negotiation. And now, once again, Rome has become the stage for this convergence.
The key point lies in the choice of the location. From the outset, Tehran insisted on continuing the talks in Muscat—a venue geopolitically and securely closer to Iran and farther from Israeli influence. Yet the U.S. insisted, strangely enough, on relocating the talks to Rome. Initial justifications such as ease of diplomatic travel or Europe’s closeness to the U.S. were, at best, political cover for a deeper reality: Rome not only more readily accommodates Israeli officials but also provides a secure ground for their covert consultations with the Americans—something Oman would never have allowed.
Israel’s involvement in Rome shows that these negotiations are not solely based on Tehran and Washington. In fact, an "informal trilateral axis" has emerged in which Tel Aviv, though not officially seated at the table, occupies a shadow seat and continuously coordinates the pace of the talks with one of the parties—the U.S.
Rome is no longer just the capital of Italy—it has become the stage for a multilayered drama in which a battle of wills, threats, and intelligence are all interwoven. In this arena, it doesn’t matter who speaks directly; what matters is who sets the course. And along this course, it seems that Israel is not merely reacting—it is actively shaping American policy.
Such a trend, given Israel’s stance toward Iran, will certainly not lead to a hopeful future for the negotiations—unless Trump frees himself from Netanyahu’s grip and accepts the reality that only by embracing a win-win equation can a viable agreement with Iran be reached.
NOURNEWS