Iranian official says US nuclear proposal is ‘incoherent and disjointed,' as sources warn talks momentum is collapsing
CNN —
A senior Iranian official told CNN the new nuclear deal proposal presented to Tehran in recent days is 'incoherent and disjointed,' as sources familiar with the progress of the talks said the momentum behind negotiations to secure a new deal appears to be collapsing.
The private pessimism contrasts with President Donald Trump's public optimism last week that the administration was 'very close to a solution.'
CNN has also learned that the US has shifted position on the issue of uranium enrichment in the new proposal, in comparison to what officials had said publicly. It suggests the US could invest in Iran's civilian nuclear power program and join a consortium that would oversee the enrichment of low-level uranium inside of Iran for an unspecified amount of time. That consortium is expected to include Middle Eastern nations and the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Previously, senior US officials have said no enrichment inside Iran could take place under a new deal, and top US officials demanded that Iran stop enrichment and only import the material – a suggestion Tehran firmly rejected. The prospect of allowing continued low-level enrichment in the country would likely enrage Iran hawks in the US and Israel and hearkens back to the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew.
However later Monday, Trump said that the Iran deal will not allow uranium enrichment.
'Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM,' the president wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said that they are open to the idea of an enrichment consortium but have insisted Iran must be able to keep control of its own enrichment capabilities.
The senior Iranian official on Monday denounced the new proposal, saying that at 'at first glance, is assessed as incoherent and disjointed, very unrealistic, and with excessive demands.'
They argued that the primary barrier to progress was the US' inconsistency.
'The fact that the Americans constantly change their positions has so far been the main obstacle to the success of the talks and now makes the work more difficult than ever,' the official added.
The official also alleged the latest text directly contradicts prior understandings.
'The text is clearly in conflict with the latest agreement reached during the fifth round of negotiations,' the official stated. They reaffirmed Tehran's uncompromising stance on a critical issue, saying, 'Iran's position on enrichment is firm and steadfast.'
Iran and the United States concluded a fifth round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome on May 23 amid growing skepticism in Tehran about the chances of a deal. After that round of talks, the two sides 'agreed to meet again in the near future,' a US senior administration official said at the time.
Now, however, the next round of talks is very uncertain and may not happen at all, the sources familiar said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN's Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Gold Prices Continue to Rise amid Global Trade, Fiscal Escalation Fears
Waleed Farouk Gold prices in local markets rose noticeably by mid-day trading on Wednesday, in tandem with a significant increase in global spot prices. The rise was driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and a weakening U.S. dollar, which reinforced the appeal of the yellow metal as a safe haven for investors. Gold prices in Egypt increased by EGP 25 during today's trading session compared to Tuesday's closing, with the 21-karat gram reaching EGP 4,720. Meanwhile, the global ounce rose by $33 to reach $3,385. The 24-karat gold gram was priced at EGP 5,394, the 18-karat gram at EGP 4,046, and the gold pound recorded approximately EGP 37,760. Geopolitical Tensions Bolster Demand for Gold Geopolitical tensions between the United States and China have intensified, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. This reignited fears of a renewed trade war between the two major economies. Additionally, ongoing developments in the Russia–Ukraine conflict have increased uncertainty in global markets, prompting investors to seek safety in gold. Weak U.S. Dollar Supports Gold Prices The U.S. dollar declined significantly, with the dollar index falling by 0.4%, making gold more attractive to investors dealing in other currencies. It is worth noting that gold typically moves inversely to the dollar, and a weaker greenback tends to boost demand for the precious metal. Outlook for Gold Prices With persistent geopolitical tensions and continued dollar weakness, analysts expect gold prices to remain supported in the near term. Central bank monetary policies—especially those of the U.S. Federal Reserve—will be a key factor in determining the direction of gold markets going forward. Today's increase in gold prices is attributed to a combination of factors, most notably rising geopolitical risks and a weakening U.S. dollar, which have enhanced gold's appeal as a safe haven amid global economic uncertainty. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
Egypt Independent
13 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
As Ukraine batters Russia with daring assaults, firebrand pro-Kremlin pundits rattle nuclear sabers
CNN — How will Moscow respond to the stunning Ukrainian drone strikes on its fleet of strategic aircraft? So far, the Kremlin has stayed tight-lipped, saying only that it is waiting for the results of a formal investigation into the attacks, which struck air bases thousands of miles from the Ukraine border. But fury is being openly vented across the Russia media, with pro-Kremlin pundits and bloggers seething with calls for retribution, even nuclear retaliation. 'This is not just a pretext but a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine,' the prominent 'Two Majors' bloggers said on their popular Telegram channel, which has over a million subscribers. 'After the mushroom cloud you can think about who lied, made mistakes and so on,' they added, referring to the inevitable Kremlin search for scapegoats for the fiasco. At least one prominent Russian political analyst, Sergei Markov, urged caution, warning in a social media post that using nuclear weapons would 'lead to real political isolation'. But popular blogger Alexander Kots demanded Russia should 'strike with all our might, regardless of the consequences.' A satellite image appears to show damage to aircraft following a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Russian military airfields in Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia, on Monday. Capella Space/Handout/Reuters Of course, Russian hardliners routinely clammer for the nuclear obliteration of Ukraine, while issuing thinly veiled, but ultimately empty threats of Armageddon aimed at the Western allies. The fact they are doing so again, after such a painful series of attacks, is hardly surprising. But it would be wrong to get too complacent and dismiss all Russian nuclear saber-rattling as mere propaganda. In fact, there are some worrying reasons to take the slim possibility of a devastating Russian response a little more seriously this time around. Firstly, several Russian pundits have commented on how Ukraine's destruction of a significant number of Russian strategic nuclear bombers may be interpreted as breaching Moscow's legal nuclear threshold. The Kremlin's recently updated nuclear doctrine – which sets out conditions for a launch – states that any attack on 'critically important' military infrastructure which 'disrupts response actions by nuclear forces' could trigger a nuclear retaliation. The Ukrainian operation was 'grounds for a nuclear attack,' declared Vladmir Solovyov, a firebrand host on Russian state TV, calling for strikes on the Ukrainian presidential office in Kyiv, and beyond. Whatever the legality, the barrier for a Russian nuclear response remains mercifully high and such a strike is likely to be dismissed in Kremlin circles as an impractical overkill. For a start, it would poison relations with key Russian trading partners like China and India, as well as provoke potential military action against Russian forces. Inevitable mass casualties would be certain to invite universal scorn, further isolating Russia on the international stage. But here's the problem: the Kremlin may now feel overwhelming pressure to restore deterrence. Ukraine says it has struck a bridge connecting Russia to Crimea with underwater explosives. SBU/Telegram An image released by the SBU showed damage to the Crimean Bridge. Security Service of Ukraine It's not just the recent Ukrainian drone strikes, deep inside Russia, that have humiliated Moscow. Shortly afterwards, Ukraine staged yet another bold attack on the strategic Kerch bridge linking Russia with Crimea – the third time the vital road and rail link has been hit. The capture by Ukrainian forces of the Kursk region in western Russia last year dealt another powerful blow, leaving the Kremlin struggling to liberate its own land. Meanwhile, weekly, if not daily, drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and airports continue to cause widespread disruption far from the front lines. At the same time, Ukraine's allies have been gradually lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms against Russia, further challenging what were once believed to be Moscow's red lines. Ukrainian Army soldiers use American Bradley Fighting Vehicles during Ukraine's cross-border operation into Russia's Kursk region on January 15 in Sumy, doubt the Kremlin is itching to respond decisively, but how? One former Russian minister told CNN the most likely response by Moscow would be more 'barbaric' conventional missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities of the kind that the people of Ukraine have already suffered for years. 'There's no other way to go, because Russia does not have the capacity to launch a massive military offensive. They don't have enough personnel for it,' said Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister now living outside of Russia. 'People talk about potential use of nuclear weapons and so on. I don't think this is on the table. But, again, Putin has shown many times that he is resorting to barbarity and revenge.' In other words, highly unlikely, but the nuclear option can't be entirely discounted. This Ukraine conflict has already taken multiple unexpected turns, not least the full-scale Russian invasion itself in 2022. And while Ukraine and its supporters revel in the stunning successes of recent military operations, poking a humiliated and wounded Russian bear may yield dangerous and frightening consequences.
Egypt Independent
13 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Cologne evacuates 20,000 people after three World War II bombs discovered
CNN — The German city of Cologne is moving 20,500 people in its largest evacuation since World War II, after officials discovered three massive, unexploded bombs. The American bombs – two 20-ton weapons and another that weighs 10 tons – were found in a shipyard on Monday, the city said, causing a huge 'danger zone' to be sealed off on Wednesday morning. A hospital, two retirement centers and the city's second largest train station were among the facilities emptied out. Schools, churches, museums and two of the city's cultural landmarks – the Musical Dome theater and the Philharmonic Hall – also fell within the evacuation zone. The discovery of unexploded weapons is a frequent phenomenon in Cologne, which was decimated by Allied bombing during World War II, but no operation of this size has been carried out since the end of the war, the city said. Most of central Cologne was destroyed by Allied bombing raids during World War II.'Everyone involved hopes that the defusing can be completed by Wednesday,' city authorities said in a statement. 'This will only be possible if all those affected leave their homes or workplaces early and stay outside the evacuation area from the outset.' The city told residents to 'stay calm (and) prepare yourselves' for the evacuation, recommending they visit friends or family and avoid workplaces in the sealed-off area. Officials said they 'cannot make any reliable predictions' about how long the operation will take, adding that specialists cannot begin to defuse the bombs until the entire area has been evacuated. 'If you refuse, we will escort you from your home – if necessary by force – along with the police,' the city's statement said. Allied nations conducted 262 air raids of Cologne during World War II, killing approximately 20,000 residents and leaving the city in ruins. Nearly all of the buildings in the Old Town were destroyed, as were 91 of the city's 150 churches. A massive reconstruction effort took place after the war, with the Old Town rebuilt and major landmarks restored. But small evacuations still take place on a regular basis when unexploded ordnances are found. Around 10,000 residents had to leave their homes in October when another American bomb was found, and in December, 3,000 people were asked to evacuate.
