2 days ago
Iran to make counterproposal to US plan for Tehran's nuclear development
Iran plans to make a counterproposal to a plan presented by the United States in talks over Tehran's nuclear development.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has been pressing Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment.
Iran insists that the country should be allowed to continue its enrichment activities, and that sanctions imposed on the country must be lifted.
The two countries have yet to narrow the gap over the enrichment issue.
The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baqai, referred to the US proposal that Iran received in late May.
He stressed that the most important demand from Iran is to preserve its nuclear achievements and the effective removal of sanctions. He said any proposal that does not incorporate these two fundamental principles is unacceptable.
The spokesperson revealed a plan to submit a proposal to the US through Oman, which has been mediating the talks. He described the new Iranian proposal as being reasonable, logical and balanced.
He added that it is certainly in the interest of the US to take this plan into serious consideration.
The New York Times reported on June 3 that the latest US proposal includes the construction of enrichment facilities managed by a consortium to be set up by Iran and other countries in the region.
The proposal reportedly says that Iran would have to stop all enrichment activities on its soil after the facilities start operating.
At a news conference in the White House on Monday, Trump said he had held telephone talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump said the two discussed a lot of things, including Iran. He described Iranian negotiators as being good but tough.
He said: "Sometimes they could be too tough. That's a problem."
Trump suggested that US and Iranian negotiators will hold talks again in the coming days.
