FILE- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a bilateral meeting between Switzerland and Iran during a second round of US-Iranian talks in Geneva. AFP
The United States and Iran resumed negotiations last week in Geneva through Omani mediation, against a backdrop of escalating threats and heavy US military deployments in the region, fueling fears of a wider war.
Tehran and Washington remain divided over sanctions relief in the nuclear file negotiations, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday.
“The last round of talks showed that U.S. ideas regarding the scope and mechanism of sanctions relief differ from Iran’s demands. Both sides need to reach a logical timetable for lifting sanctions,” the official said.
“This roadmap must be reasonable and based on mutual interests,” he added.
Following Geneva talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a draft proposal for an agreement with Washington would be ready “in a matter of days.”
He denied offering any suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, asserting that the US side has not demanded zero enrichment.
For nearly three decades, Washington, its western allies, and Israel have repeatedly claimed that Iran is on the verge of building a nuclear weapon.
Time and again, they have claimed Tehran is “very close,” “months away,” or “approaching the point of no return.” Yet nearly 30 years of such predictions have failed to materialize.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear arms, insisting its programme is peaceful and protected under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and maintains its right to enrich uranium.
Iranian officials say repeated allegations of an imminent bomb have consistently been politically motivated and unfounded.
According to Reuters, the United States has also demanded that Iran relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU).
The Iranian official said Tehran could consider exporting part of its HEU stockpile, diluting its most highly enriched uranium, or establishing a regional enrichment consortium in exchange for recognition of Iran’s right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment.”
“The negotiations continue, and the possibility of reaching an interim agreement exists,” he said.
Tehran has emphasized that it seeks an agreement that provides mutual economic benefits with the US to ensure a durable deal.
“Within the economic package under negotiation, the United States has also been offered opportunities for serious investment and tangible economic interests in Iran’s oil industry,” the official told Reuters.
However, he said Tehran would not relinquish control over its oil and mineral resources.
“Ultimately, the US can be an economic partner for Iran, nothing more. American companies can always participate as contractors in Iran’s oil and gas fields,” he added.
The Iranian official's remarks came as US envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that President Donald Trump is questioning why Iran has not “capitulated” in the face of Washington’s military buildup aimed at pressuring them into a nuclear deal.
In the interview, Witkoff said the president was “curious” about Iran’s position after he had warned of severe consequences if no deal is reached.
“Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do’? And yet it's sort of hard to get them to that place,” Witkoff added.
Short link: