U.S. perceived as insincere in negotiations concerning Tehran's nuclear activities, claims Iranian representative
Let's chat about the looming nuclear showdown
The cat-and-mouse game between Iran and the US over their nuclear programs continues, with the latest round of talks set to take place in Oman this weekend. But here's the tea: Iran ain't happy with the way things are going down, and they'reMutters under its breath that the talks are just a ruse to fan the flames of tension.
An Iranian official spilled the beans to CNN, claiming that the Yanks have been playing political games during the negotiations, with unexpected pauses and questionable agendas. They say Tehran's on guard, ready to face down failure and move on to the next phase.
This all comes after Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, warned that a lack of progress in the talks could mean the end of the negotiations, and a new approach would be needed. Meanwhile, a US official insisted that Trump's got a serious hankering for a deal with Iran, and there's no question of his commitment to denuclearization - but peace in the Middle East and a fresh US-Iran relationship are also on the higher-ups' wish list.
The fact that the talks are high-level suggests that the two sides are planning to talk turkey on a broader framework for a deal, rather than focusing on the pesky details of sanctions relief or technical aspects of the agreement.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dropped a bomb when he shared that Tehran had received mixed signals from the US, with some folks saying one thing and others another. The Iranian source called BS on the American side, claiming they ain't prepared for meaningful discussions and are vague, inconsistent, and unhelpful in negotiations.
In an interview with Breitbart, Witkoff made it clear as day that he wants Iran to abandon its enrichment program completely, aka dismantle all three of its enrichment facilities. Cue Iran's response: "Hell no, that's a no-go zone." They made it plain that enrichment on their own soil is a non-starter - a red line they won't budge on, as the US surely knows already.
While Iran maintains it doesn't want nukes, Witkoff emphasized that these talks revolve expressly around the nuclear issue, unlike the Donald's first term attempts to deal with Iran's regional aggression.
The bottom line? In this convoluted dance of diplomacy, Iran's steadfast in its stance on its nuclear rights, while the US pushes for indisputable denuclearization. Sanctions relief and regional stabilization are what Iran is hoping for in this game of high-stakes poker, and we'll see if their faith in the talks is rewarded come Sunday.
CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.
Trivia:- Did you know that Iran and the US have a rich history of negotiations? In 2015, they reached the Iran Nuclear Deal - also called the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) - which placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. The Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, and tensions have been escalating ever since.- The next round of talks between Iran and the US takes place on May 11, 2025, in Oman. The discussions have been going on since January and were originally planned for Rome but were moved to Oman for logistical reasons.
- The next round of talks between Iran and the US, scheduled for May 11, 2025, in Oman, takes place amidst indirect deal negotiations that have been ongoing since January.
- The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has revealed mixed signals from the US, indicating a lack of unity and consistency in their approach to the discussions.
- Despite the unsettled nature of the talks, the US has expressed a strong commitment to denuclearization, but their desire for a broader framework for peace in the Middle East and a fresh US-Iran relationship is also evident.
- Iran, on the other hand, insists on the retention of its nuclear rights, while pushing for sanctions relief and regional stabilization as key outcomes in this complex game of high-stakes diplomacy.
