Iran is moving ahead according to its national interests without being told what to do by outsiders, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami stressed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday there was potential for progess in nuclear negotiations with the U.S. after mediator Oman made several proposals, adding that the talks were complicated and more discussions were needed.

Depending on who you ask, a nuclear agreement between Iran and the United states is either a non-starter or almost a done deal.

Iran and the United States are set to resume nuclear talks in Rome amid rising tensions, hard-line demands, and Israeli threats of military action. With uranium enrichment at the core of the standoff,

Iran’s top diplomat has warned that his country would take “special measures” to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, raising the stakes further ahead of a new round of talks with the United States.