President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that the US is nearing a nuclear agreement with Iran, mentioning that Tehran has, perhaps, somewhat accepted certain terms.
During his Gulf tour, Trump remarked, “We are in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace.”
He added, “We’re getting close to making a trade without resorting to more aggressive measures… there are two approaches to this. Some steps are beneficial, while others are more forceful, but I’d prefer to avoid that latter route.”
An Iranian source involved in the discussions noted that there are still considerable gaps that need to be bridged between the two countries.
Recent negotiations between Iranian and US representatives wrapped up in Oman on Sunday, aimed at addressing the issues surrounding Tehran’s nuclear activities. Despite this, Iran has publicly stated its intention to continue enriching uranium.
Both Tehran and Washington appear to prefer diplomacy as a means to address their longstanding nuclear tensions. However, they remain divided by several critical limitations that, if crossed, could derail new agreements and possibly lead to military actions.
In response to Trump’s remarks, the Iranian president described Tehran as the “most destructive force” in the Middle East.
“Trump thinks he can impose sanctions and issue threats before discussing human rights. The instability and crimes in the region stem from them (the US),” Masoud Pezeshkian asserted.
He continued, “He seeks to incite disorder within Iran.”
US officials have repeatedly asserted that Iran should halt uranium enrichment. However, Iranian representatives call this a “red line,” insisting on their right to enrich uranium domestically.
That said, Iranian officials have indicated a willingness to reduce the levels of enrichment.
They have also shown readiness to decrease the stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which exceeds the conventional amounts needed for purposes like nuclear power generation.
Nonetheless, they oppose stockpiles that fall below the terms established in the 2015 agreement with global powers.
Iranian sources suggest they are willing to consider concessions, but the real issue lies in the US’s reluctance to lift significant sanctions.
These Western sanctions have considerably impacted Iran’s economy.
Concerning the reduction of enriched uranium in storage, the source stated, “Tehran also wants to eliminate a portion over time, but the US disagrees.” Additionally, debates continue over where to send the highly enriched uranium.
