Tehran: US Nuclear Plan a “Sign of Dishonesty” Without Sanctions Relief

Iran’s parliament speaker stated on Sunday, as reported by state media, that the most recent US proposal for a nuclear deal is flawed due to its absence of sanctions relief, suggesting a significant impediment in ongoing negotiations. Since April, five rounds of Omani-mediated talks have occurred between the two adversaries, seeking to replace a previous agreement that restricted Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, an accord the former US President abandoned in 2018.
In a televised address, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that “the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions,” which he perceived as a clear indication of dishonesty. He further accused the Americans of attempting to dictate a “unilateral” agreement that Tehran would not accept. Ghalibaf urged the American president to re-evaluate his strategy if a genuine deal is truly sought.
On May 31, subsequent to the fifth round of discussions, Iran confirmed the reception of “elements” of a US proposal, though officials later expressed concerns regarding “ambiguities” within the draft. The US and its Western allies have historically accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim consistently refuted by Iran, which insists its atomic program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Critical issues in the negotiations center on the removal of punitive economic sanctions and the contentious matter of uranium enrichment. Tehran argues it possesses the right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Conversely, the prior US administration designated any Iranian enrichment a “red line.” The present US administration, which has reinstated its “maximum pressure” campaign of sanctions, has consistently maintained that uranium enrichment will not be permitted under any potential agreement. Iran’s lead negotiator recently stated the country “will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium.” The international nuclear monitoring body reports Iran as the sole non-nuclear-weapon state globally enriching uranium up to 60%, short of the 90% threshold for a nuclear warhead. Iran’s supreme leader also rejected the most recent US proposal, stressing that enrichment is fundamental to Iran’s nuclear activities.