"The Iranians are, I think, a little bit more desperate than they were in 2022, and they are faced with a very weak economy," one analyst told CNBC.

Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program appear ready to leave the Middle East and an Italian source says the next round would take place in Rome.

In a first meeting, the United States and Iran show signs of pragmatism and limited aims, which would make success more likely. But hard-liners on both sides — and Israel — are bound to balk.