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Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Cautious Optimism Between Washington and Tehran as Nuclear Talks Inch Forward
Amid renewed diplomatic engagement, cautious optimism is building around the Iranian nuclear file, with sources in Washington and Tehran suggesting that a political understanding may soon be within reach. While a comprehensive agreement has not yet been finalized, both sides appear to be edging closer to a deal that could revive stalled negotiations. US officials have indicated that a broad framework is on the table and could be finalized in the next round of talks. Iranian sources, meanwhile, have signaled conditional readiness to pause uranium enrichment -if two core demands are met: the release of billions in frozen Iranian assets and formal recognition of Iran's right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Still, Tehran's tone remains guarded. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back against speculation of an imminent deal, stating that while Iran is genuinely pursuing a diplomatic resolution, the path to agreement requires the full lifting of sanctions and formal guarantees of its nuclear rights. Araghchi warned against overreliance on media speculation, asserting that real solutions will only emerge through direct negotiation, not public pressure campaigns or political posturing. Iran's semi-official Nour News echoed this message, characterizing recent US optimism as a psychological tactic aimed at pressuring the Iranian delegation ahead of the upcoming, yet unscheduled, sixth round of talks. The outlet reiterated that meaningful outcomes cannot be dictated through media narratives but must be shaped at the negotiating table. US President Donald Trump added to the intrigue this week by confirming he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch a military strike against Iran, arguing that such an action would be ill-timed as talks approach a critical juncture. Trump said a resolution appears 'very close' and that aggressive moves would only derail progress. On the Iranian side, nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Tehran might consider granting more access to international inspectors if future agreements are framed respectfully and reflect Iran's concerns. However, senior lawmakers pushed back against any suggestion that Iran is prepared to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure, underscoring that uranium enrichment and the removal of sanctions remain non-negotiable pillars of Iran's position. Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi warned that any new nuclear deal must include 'rigorous inspection mechanisms' to ensure compliance. In Moscow, Iran's top security official Ali Akbar Ahmadian met with his Russian counterpart and reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to diplomacy. However, he emphasized that Iran would not compromise on its right to maintain enrichment capabilities for peaceful purposes.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iran's supreme leader says US-Iran talks unlikely to succeed
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he does not expect negotiations with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program to 'reach a conclusion' as Washington toughens its conditions for a deal. 'During (former President Ebrahim) Raisi's time there were also indirect negotiations that didn't result in anything, and now we also doubt we will reach a conclusion, and we don't know what will happen,' he was cited as saying on his website. Khamenei called the US demand that Iran not enrich uranium a 'big mistake,' saying that Tehran won't wait for American permission. Addressing American negotiators, he added: 'Try not to talk nonsense.' American officials have sent mixed signals about whether they will allow Iran to enrich uranium domestically under a nuclear agreement. Uranium is a nuclear fuel that can be used to produce a bomb if enriched to high levels. Iran insists it has a right to enrich under the United Nations' Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and says it will not relinquish that right under any circumstances. US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it doesn't agree to a nuclear deal, but he did not explicitly rule out its right to enrich uranium when reiterating that threat during his Middle East trip last week. But US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the American delegation to the talks and had previously suggested Iran could be permitted to enrich uranium, told ABC over the weekend that Washington 'cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability' under an agreement. 'We've delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them,' he said. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi was cited as saying by Iran's Nour News on Monday that nuclear talks with the US 'will not actually get anywhere' if Washington insists that Tehran abandon enrichment. Iran and the US held their fourth round of talks in Oman earlier this month, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The Iranian foreign ministry described those talks as 'difficult.' Witkoff said the next round of talks may take place in Europe this week. 'We hope that it will lead to some real positivity,' he added. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Iran has been offered a date for the next round of talks, but that it has yet to accept it. Asked how negotiations were going so far, he jokingly said the two sides are still tussling. CNN's Leila Gharagozlou contributed reporting.
LBCI
19-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Iran warns nuclear talks with US will fail If Washington demands total halt to enrichment
Iran's Nour News agency reported on Monday that Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi said nuclear talks with the United States 'will lead to no result' if Washington insists that Tehran halt entirely its uranium enrichment activities. Reuters
Egypt Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Iran warns US nuclear talks will fail if enrichment demand stands
CNN — An Iranian official has warned that nuclear talks with the United States 'will not actually get anywhere' if Washington insists Tehran abandons enrichment of uranium – a process that can also be used to make a bomb. 'Regarding zero enrichment, we said from the beginning that if this is their (American) position, it is natural that the work will not actually get anywhere,' Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi was cited as saying by Iran's Nour News on Monday. 'Our position on enrichment is clear, and we have repeatedly stated that enrichment is a national achievement for us,' added Ravanchi. We will not back down on the issue of enrichment.' Iran and the US capped their fourth round of talks in Oman earlier this month, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the American delegation to the talks, told ABC over the weekend that Washington 'cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability' under an agreement. 'We've delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them,' he said. While enriched uranium can be used for peaceful purposes like energy production, it can be weaponized if refined to high levels. 'Enrichment enables weaponization, and we will not allow a bomb to get here. But short of that, there are all kinds of ways for us to achieve our goals in this negotiation,' Witkoff said, adding that the next round of talks may take place in Europe this week. 'We hope that it will lead to some real positivity.' US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, pictured in Washington, DC, on May 6, has said American negotiators 'cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability' in Iran. Kent Nishimura/Reuters Iran has repeatedly said that any suggestion that it abandons enrichment would be a non-starter, insisting that it reserves the right to enrich uranium under the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Witkoff had previously suggested that Iran could be allowed some uranium enrichment. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that the issue 'is not negotiable under any circumstances,' criticizing American negotiators for reversing their positions after each round of negotiations. 'This creates repeated uncertainty, making it more difficult for any negotiation process and raising more doubts about the seriousness of the other side in this process. This is a question that the American parties naturally have to answer,' he said, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. 'We are not afraid of threats' The war of words between both nations spiraled after the Iranian president seemingly clashed with his US counterpart, saying his country favors negotiations with the White House to avoid fighting but rejecting threats by US President Donald Trump. 'We are not seeking war, we favor negotiation and dialogue, but we are not afraid of threats either, and we will in no way retreat from our legal rights,' Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at an event in the port city of Bandar Abbas Saturday. He didn't specify which comments he was referring to, but Trump told reporters on a Middle East tour last week that Iran has to 'move quickly' in negotiations with the US or 'something bad's gonna happen.' The Iranian leader insisted 'no one but Trump himself believes his words against the Iranian nation.' 'On the one hand, he speaks of peace and stability and, on the other hand, he threatens (us) with the most sophisticated tools for homicide and with contradictory statements,' added Pezeshkian. 'He simultaneously sends messages of peace, bloodshed and insecurity.' Also on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei referred to unspecified comments by Trump on Iran, calling them a 'disgrace to the American nation' and 'not worthy of a response at all.' Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, pictured on May 17, in Tehran, accused his US counterpart of spouting 'contradictory statements' of 'peace, bloodshed and insecurity.' President of Iran/WANA/Reuters Over his Gulf tour, Trump repeatedly cautioned Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, threatening to strike the country if it fails to reach a nuclear deal with the US. But he has not explicitly ruled out Iran enriching uranium. On Friday, Trump said the US had put forward a formal proposal for a nuclear deal, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the same day that Iran had not received any such written proposals from Washington, either directly or indirectly. 'There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to (uranium) enrichment for peaceful purposes: a right afforded to all other (Non-Proliferation Treaty) signatories, too,' Araghchi said. In an interview with Breitbart last week, Witkoff said Iran's uranium enrichment program must be dismantled, though in an earlier interview with Fox News he had suggested that Iran could be allowed to enrich uranium to low levels. The most recent round of talks between the US and Iran, in the Omani capital Muscat, was described by the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson as 'difficult.' A senior Trump administration official gave a more positive assessment, telling CNN the discussions, which lasted over three hours, were encouraging.
Shafaq News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran warns US: Nuclear talks at risk over enrichment demands
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi warned that nuclear negotiations with the United States risk collapsing if Washington insists on its enrichment conditions. 'The talks will lead nowhere if the US continues to demand that Iran stop all enrichment activities,' Ravanchi confirmed to Iran's Nour News agency. The remarks followed a statement from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who outlined a firm red line on uranium enrichment. In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Witkoff reiterated that Washington would not accept 'even 1%' enrichment, describing the issue as non-negotiable. He argued that any level of enrichment could bring Iran closer to developing a nuclear weapon, which the US is determined to prevent. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the American stance, reaffirming that enrichment activities in Iran will continue for peaceful purposes. Ravanchi, in turn, proposed the idea of forming a regional nuclear consortium —including Iran, the United States, and neighboring countries—if the initiative is approached with serious intent.
