U.S. Accused of Insincerity in Tehran Nuclear Negotiations
An Iranian official has conveyed to CNN that the recent indirect negotiations with the United States lacked authenticity from the American side and appear to have been strategically crafted from the beginning as a "trap" to escalate tensions.
In an interview with CNN, an Iranian official has asserted that the recent indirect discussions with the United States regarding Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions lacked authenticity on the part of the U.S. According to the official, these talks were seemingly orchestrated from the start as a “trap” intended to escalate tensions.
An official, who requested anonymity while speaking to CNN, has stated that Iran perceives the interruptions and weekly pauses in the negotiations as a strategic maneuver by the United States, rather than aligning with Tehran’s preferences. In response, Iran is reportedly gearing up for potential outcomes where discussions do not reach a successful conclusion.
This development follows a cautionary statement from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who on Friday indicated that if the upcoming talks in Oman on Sunday fail to yield fruitful results, the discussions would not proceed further, necessitating an alternative course of action.
A US official reported to CNN on Saturday that Trump is entirely genuine in his intent to secure an agreement with Iran and is fully dedicated to achieving this objective.
A United States official emphasized the nation’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while also expressing a desire for enduring peace in the Middle East. The official highlighted aspirations for a new relationship with Iran and for the Iranian populace to achieve their country’s full potential.
Sunday’s discussions are anticipated to be conducted at a high level, indicating that both parties will focus on outlining a comprehensive framework for future progress. According to information obtained by CNN, the technical team, responsible for negotiating detailed components such as sanctions relief, is not expected to participate in the talks.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran has been receiving “contradictory messages” from the United States, citing the varied perspectives presented by different officials. Araghchi, who is scheduled for discussions with Witkoff on Sunday, highlighted the inconsistency in the communication from the US.
An Iranian source has indicated that the United States appears unprepared for substantive technical and political discussions. The source noted that the U.S. tends to provide “short and general answers” to inquiries, overlooks “main proposals,” and “frequently alters its stance” during negotiations.
According to the source, the situation has prompted Iran to determine that the negotiations are unlikely to achieve the desired outcomes in terms of sanctions relief and economic benefits.
Tehran is gearing up for the forthcoming phase, having developed essential strategies across political, economic, and various other sectors over the past month.
Following an interview with Breitbart, Witkoff has elaborated on the United States’ expectations for the discussions, offering some of the most detailed insights to date.
Witkoff stated unequivocally that Iran must never have an enrichment program within its borders. He emphasized a firm stance, indicating that the dismantling of the program is critical. This entails not only the cessation of enrichment activities but also the dismantlement of facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, precluding any possibility of weaponization.
Iran has stated that its right to enrich uranium is nonnegotiable.
In negotiations with the United States, Iran’s position remains firm, with an Iranian source emphasizing to CNN on Saturday that uranium enrichment within its borders is a non-negotiable “definite red line.” The source noted that the U.S. is “well aware of” this stance.
Iran has consistently maintained that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear ambitions are solely focused on energy production.
In an interview with Breitbart, the special envoy confirmed that the discussions are concentrating solely on the nuclear issue, marking a departure from the efforts of the initial Trump administration, which aimed to broadly address Iran’s regional aggressive activities.
