TEHRAN: Iran warned it would hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attack on its atomic facilities, on the eve of a new round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.

The warning came after CNN, citing unnamed US officials, reported on Tuesday that Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear sites despite the ongoing US-Iran talks.

“We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the US government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter to the United Nations published on Thursday.

“Iran strongly warns against any adventurism by the Zionist regime and will respond decisively to any threat or unlawful act by this regime,” Araghchi added.

US President Donald Trump while speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on call about the recent killings of two Israeli embassy staffers also talked about Iran, White House said. “They talked about a potential deal with Iran, which the president believes is moving along in the right direction,” added Leavitt.

Trump tells Netanyahu talks with Tehran are moving along in ‘the right direction’

Trump and Netanyahu have appeared increasingly at odds over Iran’s nuclear programme, with Washington pursuing talks with Tehran for a deal while Israel appears focused on a military option. The nuclear talks, which began on April 12, are the highest-level contact between the long-time foes since the United States in 2018 pulled out of a landmark deal between Iran and world powers, during President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

Oman, which has mediated the talks, said that a fifth round will take place in Rome on Friday. The US delegation will include Steve Witkoff, Trump’s friend and globe-trotting negotiator, and Michael Anton, the head of policy planning at the State Department.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025