Non-Starter: Iran set to reject US nuclear deal over enrichment, sanctions
Iran is expected to reject a fresh US nuclear proposal delivered over the weekend, calling the offer one-sided and lacking any concessions on key issues such as uranium enrichment and sanctions relief, a senior Iranian diplomat told Reuters on Monday."Iran is drafting a negative response to the US proposal, which could be interpreted as a rejection of the US offer," said the diplomat, who is closely aligned with Iran's nuclear negotiating team. "This proposal is a non-starter that fails to address Tehran's interests."advertisementThe latest US offer was relayed to Tehran on Saturday by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who has been shuttling between the two sides in an effort to mediate a breakthrough. Despite five rounds of indirect discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, key sticking points remain unresolved.
One of the main obstacles is Washington's continued demand that Iran fully halt uranium enrichment and ship out its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently rebuffed these terms.'In this proposal, the US stance on enrichment on Iranian soil remains unchanged, and there is no clear explanation regarding the lifting of sanctions,' the diplomat said, adding that the Iranian side views the American position as 'completely one-sided.'Iran maintains that its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons. It has demanded the immediate removal of US sanctions that have throttled its oil-dependent economy. However, Washington has insisted that any sanctions relief must occur in phases, conditional on Tehran's compliance.advertisement"President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media."But Iranian officials say they are unconvinced. According to the diplomat, the proposal 'attempts to impose a bad deal on Iran through excessive demands.'The talks come amid renewed tensions since Trump's return to the White House in January. His administration has resumed the 'maximum pressure' campaign, blacklisting dozens of Iranian institutions and threatening military action should diplomacy fail.Trump withdrew from the original 2015 nuclear accord during his first term, reimposing sanctions that Tehran responded to by ramping up its uranium enrichment well beyond the deal's limits.Araqchi said Iran would issue a formal response to the US proposal soon, but the mood in Tehran suggests rejection is all but certain.The Iranian nuclear negotiations committee, overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly concluded that the current US offer "could not serve Tehran's interests."Must Watch
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