Iran demands sanctions relief guarantee in nuclear talks with US
Iran has demanded that the United States clarify exactly how sanctions will be lifted if the two sides are to reach a new agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the comments on Monday, days after the US submitted what it described as an 'acceptable' proposal.
The pair has conducted seven weeks of negotiations over the nuclear programme, with the US seeking assurances that it is peaceful, while Iran hopes to escape punishing sanctions that have battered its economy in recent years.
However, Tehran is now demanding Washington detail what it is offering, reflecting scepticism voiced earlier this year by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency, Baghaei stressed the need for guarantees regarding the 'real end of the sanctions', including details on 'how and through what mechanism' they would be removed.
'The American side has not yet provided the necessary clarity in this regard,' he said.
Baghaei also reiterated Iran's intention to continue enriching uranium for 'peaceful' purposes.
US envoy Steve Witkoff has said President Donald Trump opposes Tehran continuing any enrichment, calling it a 'red line'.
A leaked United Nations report shows that Iran has ramped up production of uranium enriched to 60 percent, short of the roughly 90 percent required for atomic weapons but significantly above the 4 percent or so needed for power production.
Baghaei dismissed the report as biased, accusing unnamed Western countries of pressuring the UN to act against Iran's interests.
Official sources cited by The New York Times said the recent US proposal includes a call for Iran to end all enrichment.
While Tehran has confirmed receipt of the proposal, which the White House described as being in Iran's 'best interest', it has said it is still reviewing the document.
'Receiving a text certainly does not mean accepting it, nor does it even mean that it is acceptable,' Baghaei said.
Iran has held five rounds of talks with the US since April 12 in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with the leading powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Al Jazeera
Chinese couple charged with smuggling toxic fungus into US
US federal prosecutors have charged two Chinese nationals with smuggling a toxic fungus into the United States, which authorities claim could be turned into a 'potential agroterrorism weapon'. The charges against Jian Yunqing, 33, and Liu Zunyong, 34, two researchers from China, were unsealed by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan on Tuesday. The pair face additional charges of conspiracy, visa fraud and providing false statements to investigators. Prosecutors allege that Liu smuggled the fungus, called Fusarium graminearum, into the US so he could carry out research at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend, Jian, worked. Fusarium graminearum causes 'head blight', a disease in crops like wheat, barley, maize and rice, and is 'responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year', according to the charges. The pathogen also poses a danger to humans and livestock, and can cause 'vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects'. The investigation was carried out by US Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, whose mandate includes investigating foreign and economic espionage as well as counterterrorism. Jian was earlier arrested by the FBI and is due to appear in federal court this week, where her ties to the Chinese government are also under scrutiny at a time of increased paranoia within the US government about possible Chinese infiltration. Jian allegedly received funding from the Chinese government to carry out research on the same toxic fungus in China, according to the charges. The Associated Press news agency, citing the FBI, said that Liu was sent back to China from Detroit in July 2024 after airport customs authorities found the fungus in his backpack. He later admitted to bringing the material into the US to carry out research at the University of Michigan, where he had previously worked alongside his girlfriend, the AP said. During their investigation, the FBI found an article on Liu's phone titled 'Plant-Pathogen Warfare under Changing Climate Conditions'. Messages on the couple's phones also indicated that Jian was aware of the smuggling scheme, and later lied to investigators about her knowledge. It is unlikely that Liu will face extradition as the US does not have an extradition treaty with China. FBI director Kash Patel claimed on X that China was 'working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences'. New… I can confirm that the FBI arrested a Chinese national within the United States who allegedly smuggled a dangerous biological pathogen into the country. The individual, Yunqing Jian, is alleged to have smuggled a dangerous fungus called "Fusarium graminearum," which is an… — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 3, 2025 The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The University of Michigan on Tuesday issued a brief statement condemning 'any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security, or undermine the university's critical public mission'. The case comes just a week after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to start 'aggressively' revoking the visas of Chinese students in the US on national security grounds. Targeted students include Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), an institution that counts about 100 million members. While some Chinese may join for ideological reasons, membership in the CCP comes with perks like access to better jobs and educational opportunities. It is not uncommon for students from elite backgrounds, like those studying in the US, to also be members of the CCP. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously pledged to 'firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests' of its students studying overseas following news of the visa crackdown.
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Al Jazeera
The Take: Why is Trump cracking down on Chinese students?
The United States will begin revoking visas for Chinese students. The State Department said this will include those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party as well as those studying in 'critical fields', though it did not provide details. This is to stop the exploitation of US universities and protect national security, according to the statement. Who is losing out in this latest development in US-China tensions? In this episode: Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili, Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Ki, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Remas Alhawari, Mariana Navarrete, Kingwell Ma, Kisaa Zehra, Khaled Soltan and our guest host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Al Jazeera
3 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
US-backed GHF suspends Gaza aid for full day, names new evangelical leader
The United States- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) will suspend aid distribution in the war-torn territory on Wednesday, a day after Israeli forces again opened fire on Palestinian aid seekers near a GHF distribution site, killing at least 27 and injuring more than 100. Israel's military also said that approach roads to the aid distribution centres will be 'considered combat zones' on Wednesday, and warned that people in Gaza should heed the GHF announcement to stay away. 'We confirm that travel is prohibited tomorrow on roads leading to the distribution centers … and entry to the distribution centers is strictly forbidden,' an Israeli military spokesperson said. In a post on social media, GHF said the temporary suspension was necessary to allow for 'renovation, reorganisation and efficiency improvement work'. 'Due to the ongoing updates, entry to the distribution centre areas is slowly prohibited! Please do not go to the site and follow general instructions. Operations will resume on Thursday. Please continue to follow updates,' the group said. The temporary suspension of aid comes as more than 100 Palestinian people seeking aid have been reported killed by Israeli forces in the vicinity of GHF distribution centres since the organisation started operating in the enclave on May 27. The killing of people desperately seeking food supplies has triggered mounting international outrage with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanding an independent inquiry into the deaths and for 'perpetrators to be held accountable'. 'It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,' Guterres said. The Israeli military has admitted it shot at aid seekers on Tuesday, but claimed that they opened fire when 'suspects' deviated from a stipulated route as a crowd of Palestinians was making its way to the GHF distribution site in Gaza. Israel's military said it is looking into the incident and the reports of casualties. On Tuesday, GHF named its new executive chairman as US evangelical Christian leader Reverend Dr Johnnie Moore. Moore, who was an evangelical adviser to the White House during the first term of United States President Donald Trump, said in a statement that GHF was 'demonstrating that it is possible to move vast quantities of food to people who need it most — safely, efficiently, and effectively'. The UN and aid agencies have refused to work with the GHF, accusing the group of lacking neutrality and of being part of Israel's militarisation of aid in Gaza. Israel has also been accused of 'weaponising' hunger in Gaza, which has been brought about by a months-long Israeli blockade on food, medicine, water and other basic essentials entering the war-torn territory. Moore's appointment is likely to add to concerns regarding GHF's operations in Gaza, given his support for the controversial proposal Trump floated in February for the US to take over Gaza, remove the Palestinian population, and focus on real estate development in the territory. After Trump proposed the idea, Moore posted video of Trump's remarks on X and wrote: 'The USA will take full responsibility for future of Gaza, giving everyone hope & a future.' Responding on social media to UN chief Guterres's outrage following the killing of aid seekers in Gaza on Sunday, Moore said: 'Mr Secretary-General, it was a lie… spread by terrorists & you're still spreading it. The GHF's founding executive director, former US marine Jake Wood, resigned from his position before the Gaza operation began, questioning the organisation's 'impartiality' and 'independence'. Critics have accused GHF, which has not revealed where its funds come from, of facilitating the Israeli military's goal of depopulating northern Gaza as it has concentrated aid distribution in the southern part of the territory, forcing thousands of desperate people to make the perilous journey to its locations to receive assistance.
