Tehran: Indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US are embroiled in a very sensitive and critical phase amid the former's insistence on uranium enrichment versus the latter's opposition.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Tehran and Washington have so far held five rounds of indirect talks, with uranium enrichment looming ahead as the core stumbling block to the ardent negotiation track in light of absolute mistrust between both sides. Uranium enrichment, being the cornerstone of Iran's nuclear project, has hindered Iran-US nuclear talks, with Washington leaving no stone unturned to compel Tehran to backpedal on its nuclear program.
Tehran and Washington have held talks since April to hammer out a fresh nuclear accord to replace a deal with major powers that US President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Iran has rejected a recent U.S. proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue and said it would soon come up with a counterproposal for a nuclear deal to the US via mediator Oman.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the US proposal for "lacking elements" reflective of the previous rounds of negotiations but mentioned, "We will soon submit our own proposed plan to the other side through Oman once it is finalized." Observers suggest that the US offer failed to consider Iran's remarks and interests, quoting Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baghaei, who remarked that Iran was not satisfied with the US proposal and would present its version via mediator Oman.
Both Tehran and Washington are urged to show some flexibility and make hard choices to find a way out of this impasse. Observers inside and outside Iran await the Iranian decision-maker's response to the U.S. initiative, which might be based on a middle-ground policy aimed at keeping the door open for forthcoming negotiations and bargaining.
In this regard, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated during a recent visit to Cairo that it was challenging to find a solution through five rounds of indirect nuclear talks due to many disagreements between both sides. However, Araghchi emphasized that it was not impossible for Iran and the U.S. to reach a nuclear agreement.
Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the US proposal as against Iran's interests, pledging to continue enrichment on Iranian soil. US President Donald Trump has lately threatened military action against Iran if a new nuclear agreement is not reached to replace the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018.
Iranian expert Dr. Sabah Zankanah commented in a statement to KUNA that Tehran would not accept any offer that fails to guarantee its interests, considering any failure to consider Iran's demands and rights as an imposition of solutions on Tehran. Zankanah stressed that his country would not escalate the situation and would stick to negotiations until an acceptable solution was reached.
Iranian journalist Sayed Saleh Qazwini highlighted that the recent address given by Iran's Supreme Leader had bolstered the Iranian negotiation team, who is expected to be more recalcitrant than U.S. negotiators. He noted that Iran would cling to uranium enrichment as a substantial issue, with the US side well aware of this fact but possibly seeking further concessions.
Iran announced that the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks with the US would take place next Sunday in the Omani capital of Muscat. Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baghaei stated that based on recent consultations, the next round of Iran-US indirect negotiations is planned for next Sunday in Muscat.
Iran and the United States have now held five rounds of indirect negotiations mediated by Oman, attended by Iranian top diplomat Araqchi and US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is set to convene a Board of Governors meeting from Monday to Friday in Vienna to discuss Iran's nuclear activities.