In response to unwavering rhetoric on both sides, Iran and the United States are scheduled to hold a fifth round of discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program.
On Friday, Steve Witkoff, the US president’s Middle East envoy, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet in Rome.
The Oman-mediated discussions are aimed at achieving a new agreement that would prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons while lifting international sanctions. Little progress has been made, though, and both Washington and Tehran have recently taken a tough stance in public, particularly regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment.
According to Witkoff, Iran is prohibited from enriching any country.
Tehran has rejected that “red line,” saying that it has raised its enrichment to about 60%, which is significantly above the civilian level but below the 90% required for weaponization.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Supreme Court, warned that the ongoing discussions are unlikely to lead to any conclusions. He called the demand “excessive and outrageous.”
While acknowledging that achieving a deal that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy program but not enrich uranium, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that it “will not be easy to reach a deal”.
Iran’s construction sector was put under new sanctions by the State Department on Thursday.
Araghchi stated on social media on Friday morning, “Finding out the path to a deal is not rocket science.” We DO have a deal, according to the saying “zero nuclear weapons.” We don’t have a deal, so zero enrichment means. Time to make a decision.
Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman attacked the new sanctions, calling them “vicious, illegal, and inhumane.”
High stakes
Both sides have high stakes. Trump wants to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons that could stoke a regional nuclear arms race.
Iran insists that its nuclear ambitions are purely for civilians, but it wants to slam international sanctions that threaten its economy.
Trump resisted the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 2015 agreement that allowed Iran to reduce its nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions during his first term, in 2018.
Trump renewed his “maximum pressure” program in January, including one that focused on Iran, adding to the country’s economic pressure, for example, by stifling China’s oil exports.
Iran reacted defiantly, promising to stand up to any attack and agender-related enrichment that was unavoidable under the 2015 pact.
Tehran’s enrichment program has become a major source of contention since the two nations started the talks through Oman in April.
The cost could be prohibitive if the talks ultimately go badly. Trump has threatened military action on occasion if no agreement is reached.
Source: Aljazeera
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