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The Standard
4 days ago
- General
- The Standard
Iran poised to dismiss US nuclear proposal, Iranian diplomat says
An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of Iran, Oman and U.S. Flags, is seen in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Exclusive-Iran poised to dismiss US nuclear proposal, says Iranian diplomat
FILE PHOTO: An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of Iran, Oman and U.S. Flags, is seen in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran is poised to reject a U.S. proposal to end a decades-long nuclear dispute, an Iranian diplomat said on Monday, slamming it as a "non-starter" that fails to address Tehran's interests and leaves Washington's stance on uranium enrichment unchanged. "Iran is drafting a negative response to the U.S. proposal, which could be interpreted as a rejection of the U.S. offer," the senior diplomat, who is close to Iran's negotiating team, told Reuters. The U.S. proposal for a new nuclear deal was presented to Iran on Saturday by Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who was on a short visit to Tehran and has been mediating nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. But after five rounds of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to resolve the nuclear standoff, many issues remain unresolved. Among clashing red lines is Iran's rejection of a U.S. demand that Tehran commit to scrapping uranium enrichment, viewed as a potential pathway to developing nuclear bombs. Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and has long denied accusations by Western powers that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. "In this proposal, the U.S. stance on enrichment on Iranian soil remains unchanged, and there is no clear explanation regarding the lifting of sanctions," said the diplomat, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Tehran demands the immediate removal of all U.S.-imposed curbs that impair its oil-based economy. But for the U.S., the removal of nuclear-related sanctions should be done in phases. Dozens of Iranian institutions vital to Iran's economy, including its central bank and national oil company, have been sanctioned since 2018 for, according to Washington, "supporting terrorism or weapons proliferation". Trump's revival of a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran since his return to the White House in January has included tightened sanctions and threats to bomb Iran if current negotiations yield no deal. During his first term, Trump in 2018 ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. In return, Tehran has rapidly violated the 2015 nuclear pact's curbs on its nuclear programme. The 2015 deal required Iran to take steps to restrict its nuclear program in return for relief from U.S., EU and U.N. economic sanctions. The diplomat said the assessment of "Iran's nuclear negotiations committee", under the supervision of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was that the U.S. proposal is "completely one-sided" and cannot serve Tehran's interests. Therefore, the diplomat said, Tehran considers this proposal a "non-starter" and believes it unilaterally attempts to impose a "bad deal" on Iran through excessive demands. Two Iranian officials told Reuters last week that Iran may pause uranium enrichment if the U.S. releases frozen Iranian funds and recognises Tehran's right to refine uranium for civilian use under a "political deal" that could lead to a broader nuclear accord. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran executes man responsible for Azerbaijan embassy attack
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan after an attack on it, in Tehran, Iran, January 27, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) /File Photo REUTERS DUBAI - A man charged over a fatal shooting at Azerbaijan's embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, was executed on Wednesday, Iran's judiciary news outlet Mizan said. The shooting, which took place in January 2023 and led to the killing of the Azeri embassy security chief, brought relations between Tehran and Baku to a new low, with the latter branding the shooting as an "act of terrorism". Judicial authorities ruled the attack was for "personal reasons," Mizan reported. "I thought my wife was at Azerbaijan's embassy in Tehran and was not willing to meet with me. I decided to go there with a Kalashnikov rifle," the defendant said during his trial, according to Mizan. The two neighbouring countries have had tense relations, with Baku accusing Tehran of discriminating against its large ethnic Azeri minority and Iran voicing concerns regarding Azerbaijan's ties with its arch-rival Israel, as well as potential border changes following a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to Baku last month, where he said Tehran hoped to resolve all issues jointly and to strengthen bilateral relations. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Iran moves closer to compliance with global dirty money watchdog's rules
A general view of vehicular traffic in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DUBAI - Iran's top arbitration body has approved a bill that could help remove Tehran from the blacklist of a global financial crime watchdog, state media reported on Wednesday, potentially advancing efforts to widen trade and investment opportunities. Iran has been on the blacklist of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force since 2020, after failing to comply with international standards on anti-terrorism financing and fighting organised crime. The presence of the sanctions-hit country on the list has deepened its isolation from financial markets. Iran's Expediency Council approved the Palermo Convention against transnational organised crime in the framework of local laws, state media said. The council said it will study joining the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) bill in upcoming sessions. While foreign businesses say Iran's compliance with FATF rules is essential if it wants to attract investors, Iranian authorities are divided over the merits of such a step. Iran's moderate government supports compliance, as it could ease foreign trade with Europe and Asia at a time when the country's economy is targeted by U.S. sanctions. President Masoud Pezeshkian said in 2024 that Tehran had no choice but to "fix issues" related to FATF. In contrast, hardliners in the Islamic Republic argue that passing legislation to abide by FATF standards could hamper Iran's support for its paramilitary allies around the region, including Lebanon's Shi'ite militant Hezbollah group. The Expediency Council is a body that mediates in disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran says it will strike back if US or Israel attack
The Iranian flag is seen flying over a street in Tehran, Iran, February 3, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo Iran says it will strike back if US or Israel attack Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said on Sunday that Tehran would strike back if the United States or Israel attacked. Nasirzadeh's comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran for the Tehran-backed Houthi group firing a missile that landed near Israel's main airport. "If this war is initiated by the U.S. or the Zionist regime (Israel), Iran will target their interests, bases and forces - wherever they may be and whenever deemed necessary," Nasirzadeh told Iranian state TV. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched a missile on Sunday that landed near Ben Gurion Airport, the latest in a string of attacks, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. "Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters," Netanyahu said on social media platform X. Echoing Iran's official stance, Nasirzadeh said Houthis act upon their own motivations. Iran-aligned Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at Israel in support of Hamas fighters. The United States has been striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15, with President Donald Trump vowing to hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the group. Iran has "no hostility toward neighbouring countries", but in case of an attack, the U.S. bases located in the region will be considered targets by Tehran, Nasirzadeh also said. The minister's statements followed Iran unveiling on Sunday a new solid-fuel ballistic missile called "Qassem Bassir," which has a range of 1,200 km (750 miles), Iranian state media reported. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
