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Iran has indicated it will file its own amendments to any potential agreement with the United States if President Donald Trump alters the current terms, according to reports carried by Russian state news agency TASS. The statement, attributed to an unnamed source cited by Iran's Tasnim news agency, comes amid reports that Washington has tightened its proposal to Tehran, signaling continued friction in nuclear talks.

Coverage Comparison

The New York Times, citing unnamed US administration officials, reported on May 31 that President Trump had toughened the terms of a potential deal with Iran and that the new proposal had been sent to the Iranian side. TASS, which relayed the newspaper's report, noted that officials did not disclose specifics but one cited official suggested the changes were "potentially designed to speed up the process by putting pressure on Iran to accept the current framework."

In a separate dispatch, TASS quoted a source via Iran's Tasnim agency saying that any alterations by Trump would not be automatically accepted by Tehran. The source asserted that Iran would respond with its own amendments and was fully prepared for the possibility that no agreement would be signed.

Key Claims

  • Toughened US terms: According to The New York Times, as reported by TASS, President Trump has modified the terms of a potential deal with Iran and transmitted them to the Iranian side. The report, based on unnamed US administration officials, did not detail the changes.
  • Iran's conditional response: A source cited by Tasnim, via TASS, stated that Iran would make its own amendments to the text if Trump attempts to change it. The source emphasized that Tehran does not automatically accept US alterations and is ready to respond.
  • Iran's preparedness for failure: The same source indicated that Iran is fully prepared for the possibility that the agreement will not be signed, suggesting a low level of optimism about the current trajectory.
  • US impatience: The New York Times earlier reported, citing sources, that Trump believes Iran is not responding to US proposals quickly enough. This was also carried by TASS.

Perspectives

US perspective: As conveyed by The New York Times, the Trump administration appears to be using tightened terms to pressure Iran into faster acceptance of the current framework. The lack of disclosed specifics may reflect ongoing diplomatic sensitivity.

Iranian perspective: Through the Tasnim source, Tehran presents itself as a determined negotiator that will not be swayed by unilateral alterations. The readiness to see the talks fail suggests a firm stance and possibly a warning to Washington.

Regional and international observers: The reported friction indicates that nuclear negotiations remain fragile, with each side projecting strength. The reliance on unnamed sources highlights the opacity of the talks, making independent verification of the claims difficult.

This article is based on reports from The New York Times as relayed by TASS, and statements from an unnamed source cited by Iran's Tasnim news agency. No independent verification of these claims was available at the time of writing.