Latest news with #Shamkhani
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Trump wants Iran deal that lets US ‘blow up' nuclear sites, ‘whatever we want'
US President Donald Trump said he envisions a nuclear deal with Iran that would allow the destruction of 'whatever we want' in the country including labs, a version of an inspections regime that is likely to be rejected by Tehran. Advertisement Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump briefly outlined his vision of a deal that is 'very strong, where we can go in with inspectors. We can take whatever we want. We can blow up whatever we want. But nobody getting killed,' he said. Trump also said he believed a deal with Iran could be completed within 'the next couple of weeks' and that talks had made 'a lot of progress'. But his comments about destroying nuclear facilities highlight a major sticking point between the two over whether Iran should be allowed to produce its own enriched uranium. An adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, dismissed Trump's ideas. Advertisement 'Accessing Iran's nuclear sites and 'blowing up infrastructure' is a fantasy past US presidents shared. Iran is independent, with strong defences, resilient people, and clear red lines,' Ali Shamkhani said in a post on social media on Thursday.
Rudaw Net
15-05-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iran denies ‘secret nuclear activities' as Trump hints at impending deal
Also in Iran Pezeshkian says Iran will not 'bow down to bully' after Trump remarks Iran confirms meeting with E3 in Istanbul as US talks loom Iran criticizes fresh US sanctions amid ongoing nuclear talks Trump warns Iran of massive pressure if it does accept 'olive branch' A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami on Thursday dismissed claims that Tehran had 'secret nuclear activities,' stressing that all nuclear operations are conducted under the oversight of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. This comes as Ali Shamkhani, a top aide to Iran's supreme leader, underscored Iran's willingness to give up weapon-grade uranium for sanctions relief - a stance notably reshared by US President Donald Trump who stated that Washington is close to securing a nuclear deal with Tehran. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Eslami, stated that 'Iran has never had any undeclared or secret nuclear activities throughout its history. All of the country's nuclear operations are conducted in cooperation with the [International Atomic Energy Agency] IAEA and under its continuous supervision.' He added that IAEA inspectors regularly visit Iran's nuclear facilities, both through scheduled and surprise inspections. Tehran's nuclear chief further noted that Iran's 'goals in the field of nuclear technology are completely transparent and peaceful' and that Tehran 'has always been ready for dialogue and engagement' that is 'based on logic, mutual respect, and consideration of national interests - not on force and threats.' 'Attempts to destroy the achievements of the Iranian nation through pressure and imposition have so far yielded nothing and will not do so in the future,' Eslami concluded. Earlier in the day, Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted by NBC as saying that Iran is 'ready to get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium which can be weaponized, agree to enrich uranium only to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran.' 'If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations,' Shamkhani said, adding that a deal could 'lead to a better situation in the near future.' The US president on Thursday reshared Shamkhani's remarks on his social media platform, Truth Social. Earlier in the day, Trump stated that the US was inching closer to securing a nuclear deal with Iran. "We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace," Trump said, according to AFP. "We're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this,' he noted, adding that 'there are two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don't want to do it the second way.' These developments come as the US and Iran concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the latest round as 'significantly more serious' than previous ones, noting that 'we moved away from generalities and delved into the specifics.' 'We can now say that both sides have a better understanding of each other's positions,' Araghchi added, noting that a fifth round of negotiations is expected later this week. Indirect talks between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program resumed on April 12 in Oman. The revived talks represent the most substantive engagement between the two countries since the unraveling of the 2015 nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the JCPOA and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran. In response, Iran began gradually scaling back its commitments under the deal. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and that the pursuit of nuclear weapons contradicts the principles of the Islamic Republic.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump says US close to nuclear deal with Iran, but key gaps remain
United States President Donald Trump has claimed Washington is nearing an agreement with Iran to resolve a long-running nuclear dispute, despite ongoing diplomatic hurdles. 'We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace,' Trump said in Qatar during the second leg of his Gulf tour on Thursday, before heading to the United Arab Emirates. 'We're not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,' he said. 'I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.' Trump said he was basing his optimism on new statements by Iran. 'You probably read today the story about Iran. It's sort of agreed to the terms,' he said. The president did not specify which remarks he was referring to, but an adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, said in a US media interview this week that Tehran was willing to accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear programme. 'I want them [Iran] to succeed, I want them to end up being a great country,' Trump added on Thursday, 'but they can't have a nuclear weapon; that's the only thing, it's very simple.'Trump's remarks come amid intensified negotiations between US and Iranian officials, most recently held in Oman last Sunday. A US official confirmed to Axios that a new proposal had been delivered to Tehran during the fourth round of talks. While both sides say they prefer a diplomatic solution, serious differences remain. On Tuesday, Trump called Tehran the 'most destructive force' in the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded forcefully to Trump's remarks, accusing the US of fuelling instability in the region. 'Trump thinks he can sanction and threaten us and then talk of human rights. All the crimes and regional instability is caused by them [the United States],' he said. 'He wants to create instability inside Iran.' Yet some signals from Tehran suggest a deal may be within reach. In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, senior adviser Shamkhani indicated Iran would be open to curbing its nuclear programme if sanctions were lifted. According to Shamkhani, Iran is prepared to commit to not developing nuclear weapons, diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and accepting international major obstacles remain. Washington has insisted that Iran halt uranium enrichment entirely – something Iranian officials continue to reject, calling it a non-negotiable 'red line'. Iran is willing to lower enrichment levels and reduce stockpiles, but insists the reductions be gradual and no less than the limits set by the 2015 nuclear agreement, which the Trump administration abandoned in 2018. Negotiators are also at odds over where Iran's excess uranium should be transferred, further complicating talks. Qatar has emerged as a central player in mediation efforts between the US and Iran, as momentum builds around talks to revive a nuclear deal. Speaking in Doha, Trump said Iran should 'say a big thank you' to Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had pressed the US leader to avoid military action. 'Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he's actually fighting for them. He doesn't want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,' Trump said. Qatar's involvement 'is not really something new', said Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Doha. 'They played quite a crucial role in mediating between the Iranians and the Americans in the past.' According to Ahelbarra, there is a 'strong indication' that Qatar will be 'enormously involved in mediating a settlement'. On his regional trip, Trump visited Saudi Arabia, where he met Saudi and Syrian leaders on Wednesday, before heading to Qatar. On Thursday, he addressed US troops stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, before heading to Abu Dhabi. In the UAE, he is meeting Emirati leaders who are lobbying Washington for support in their ambitious bid to position the Gulf state as a world leader in artificial intelligence.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Trump says US and Iran are closer to reaching a nuclear deal
President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. is closer to an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear activities, prompting a sell-off in oil. "I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal," Trump said in Qatar at an event with business leaders on Thursday. "You probably read the story that Iran has sort of agreed to the terms." Trump appeared to be referring to an NBC interview with Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Shamkhani reiterated Tehran's position that it's willing to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. "We'll see what happens," Trump said, shortly before traveling to the United Arab Emirates for the final part of his trip to the Gulf this week. "But we're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace. And if we do that, it'll be fantastic." Oil fell on Thursday, partly on Trump and Shamkhani's comments. Brent was down 3.3% to $63.90 a barrel at 11.10 a.m. in London. Trump's latest rhetoric was more optimistic than that of Iran. Its lead negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on Wednesday urged the U.S. to come to the next round of Oman-mediated talks with a "more realistic" approach. The date and location for those is yet to be decided. Tehran is currently considering a written proposal that the U.S. presented at the fourth round last week, Axios reported Thursday, citing American and other sources familiar with the matter. While Iran deliberates, the U.S. is piling on pressure. It's announced new oil sanctions, warned that its offer won't last forever and repeated threats of military strikes if Iran walks away from the talks. That leaves the Islamic Republic with an uncomfortable choice: agreeing to terms it might prefer to negotiate further or resisting the ultimatum and risking the diplomatic efforts falling apart. Another option is an interim agreement, which would give Trump a quick win and relieve some of the pressure on Iran. But trust in Tehran toward the U.S. is low after Trump's 2018 decision to abandon the last nuclear agreement. Ultimately, Iran will want to pin down which sanctions the U.S. will lift and for how long. Trump's priority is to prevent Iran building a nuclear weapon, while Tehran is seeking a reprieve from the crippling U.S. sanctions, which have slowed economic growth for years and helped push the inflation rate to around 35%. A key sticking point has been whether Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium to the low levels required for civilian purposes or forced to abandon enrichment work altogether. Iran has said it wouldn't agree to the latter, while U.S. officials have made conflicting statements on their red lines. ----------- -With assistance from Jordan Fabian. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil prices tumble 3% on potential for US-Iran deal and higher inventories
Oil prices slid more than 3% on Thursday morning, amid expectations of a potential nuclear deal between the US and Iran. Brent crude futures (BZ=F) dropped 3% to $64.08 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures (CL=F) fell 3.5% to $60.92 a barrel. In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said that Iran was ready to sign a nuclear deal with the US with certain conditions. In exchange for an immediate lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, Shamkhani reportedly said that Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and would agree to dispose of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, as well as to enrich uranium to levels only needed for civilian use and allow inspectors to supervise this process. Read more: FTSE 100 LIVE: Stocks lower despite UK economy growing more than expected The comments came just hours after US president Donald Trump said that he wanted to make a deal with Iran but added that it must "permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons", speaking during his visit to the Middle East. The US on Tuesday imposed fresh sanctions on companies that it said had been sending Iranian oil to China. Meanwhile, data released by the US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed that US crude stockpiles increased by 3.5 million barrels to 441.8 million barrels last week. That was much higher than an increase of 1.1 million barrels anticipated by analysts polled by Reuters. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Falling oil prices have put pressure on listed energy giants, as concerns about oversupply in the market swirl. "Just as traders were processing data that showed a big surge in US crude stockpiles, the potential for a US-Iran deal is increasing forecasts of a glut in global oil supplies," she said. "BP (BP.L) has fallen by more than 4% and Shell (SHEL.L) is down 2.7% in early trade as lower oil prices weigh on their valuations." Gold prices also fell on Thursday, amid continued investor optimism around easing trade tensions. Gold futures (GC=F) declined 1.2% to $3,150.40 per ounce on Tuesday morning, while the spot gold price fell 0.9% to $3,148.39 per ounce at the time of writing. News that at the start of the week that the US and China had agreed to cut tariffs on each other's imports by 115% for 90 days dented the appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset. This de-escalation of trade tensions has boosted investors' outlook for the economy and led to expectations that the US Federal Reserve make fewer interest rate cuts than previously expected. Read more: UK economy grows 0.7% in first quarter of the year In turn, this prompted a sell-off in US Treasurys, pushing yields — which are effectively the interest rates on these debt instruments — higher. Jim Reid, market strategist at Deutsche Bank ( said: "The bond sell-off came amid an ongoing reversal in Fed rate cut expectations, with fed funds futures moving to price less than two cuts by year-end for the first time since February. "That came as Fed speakers struck a measured tone, with San Francisco Fed president Daly saying that 'the word of the day is patience' while Chicago Fed president Goolsbee said that a 'solid hard data economy is still there' beneath the recent noise." Higher bond yields tend to weigh on gold prices, given that the precious metal is a non-yielding asset. The pound edged higher against the dollar (GBPUSD=X) in early European trading, up 0.2% to trade at $1.3286, following data that showed better-than-expected UK economic growth. According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025, which was ahead of market estimates of 0.6%. This was also a marked improvement of the 0.1% growth recorded over Christmas. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: "There's no question that the economy looks a whole lot more robust than many people had expected considering the gloom that permeated perception in the wake of last year's budget. 'Growth has been resilient and significant despite concerns about the impact of increased employment costs and uncertainty linked to Donald Trump's tariffs. Whilst not quite matching last year's first quarter, it has come in way above what had been expected." Stocks: Create your watchlist and portfolio Meanwhile, the pound was little changed against the euro (GBPEUR=X), which was trading at €1.1858 at the time of writing. More broadly, the FTSE 100 (^FTSE) was down 0.2% at 8,569 points. For more details, check our live coverage here. Read more: Savers making costly 'bad decisions' around pensions as 15 million risk retirement poverty UK pay growth slows as job market cools amid uncertainty Pension funds deal to back £50bn of investment for UK private markets and infrastructure
