Trump claims Iran’s counter-proposal is ‘unacceptable’ as talks progress

Trump Discusses Iran Negotiations with Netanyahu

President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the ongoing talks with Iran.

After the call, Trump told reporters that he emphasized the importance of preventing a conflict and urged Netanyahu to consider a diplomatic approach. He remarked, “We’re trying to make a deal—that’s aimed at avoiding destruction and death. But, you know, it might not go as planned.”

“We’ll find out pretty soon,” he added.

Trump claimed that Iran had sent back a counter-proposal after turning down a previous offer from the US. He described the Iranian response as “unacceptable” and indicated that more discussions are necessary, particularly regarding some of Iran’s demands.

In a related note, a UN nuclear watchdog reported that it had not been able to verify whether Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful, despite Iran’s assertions to the contrary.

Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Aspirations

Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), issued a statement on Monday expressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. He noted that there have been issues in accessing certain sites that might be relevant to monitoring.

In the past, the IAEA discovered enriched uranium particles at several locations, hinting at deeper issues in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Grossi stated, “We’ve been seeking explanations from Iran, holding multiple high-level discussions, but unfortunately, there have been repeated failures to provide satisfactory responses.”

He added, “We also aimed to address areas that are obstructing the agency’s verification processes.” Grossi mentioned that while the IAEA is not directly involved in US-Iran negotiations, they are actively supporting these discussions.

This warning follows an IAEA report indicating that Iran had significantly increased its uranium stockpile—up by 35% over three months.

Khamenei’s Stance Against US Demands

Additionally, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently rejected a US proposal aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear program, asserting that certain details, particularly regarding enrichment, remain unclear.

The White House appears concerned about the contents of the proposal, with some reports suggesting that Trump has given Iran a deadline of June 11 to reach an agreement, although this has not been independently verified.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghihai, reaffirmed on Monday that the US proposal is “unacceptable,” claiming it does not reflect prior negotiations.

Baghihai indicated that Iran plans to present its own proposal following consultations in Oman, suggesting that their proposal would be “rational, logical, and balanced.”