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Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has stated that no conclusion will be reached in US-Iran peace negotiations if the US insists on discussing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium. Speaking to state media outlet IRNA on Friday, Baghaei said, "The negotiations are focused on ending the war, and the issues related to the nuclear issue are not going to be discussed in detail at this stage. Therefore, if we try to go into the details of this issue at this stage, we will not reach a conclusion."

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post have covered the ongoing negotiations, with Al Jazeera highlighting Iran's stance that its nuclear enrichment is a right that "already exists" and noting the continuing talks through Pakistani mediation. The Jerusalem Post has focused on Baghaei's criticism of US demands, which he described as "unreasonable" and "excessive," and has reported on the arrival of Pakistani mediators in Tehran to facilitate the peace process.

Key Claims

  • Iran's nuclear enrichment is a right that 'already exists', according to a statement made by Esmaeil Baghaei in a media briefing reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Negotiations with the US are continuing through Pakistani mediation, as reported by both Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.
  • US demands aimed at tempering Iran's nuclear ambitions are 'unreasonable' and 'excessive', a claim made by Baghaei and carried by multiple outlets.
  • Iran's proposal to end the war includes lifting sanctions on Tehran and ending the naval blockade on Iran, as detailed in a single-source report from the semi-official Iranian news outlet Tasnim, cited by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Pakistani mediators have arrived in Tehran, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing Baghaei's comments to IRNA.
  • Iran's response to the latest US proposal was 'not excessive', according to Baghaei, reported by Al Jazeera.
  • US President Donald Trump called Iran's latest proposal 'totally unacceptable', a remark he made on Truth Social, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Baghaei defended Iran's position, stating, "Our demand is legitimate: we are calling for an end to the war, the lifting of the US blockade and piracy, and the release of Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to US pressure." He also described Iran's proposals as "generous and responsible offers for regional security," including safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon.

Regarding the nuclear issue, Baghaei stressed that the negotiations are focused on ending the war, and the nuclear issue is not to be discussed in detail at this stage. He claimed that US demands on this matter are "unreasonable" and "excessive," and blamed US efforts for causing previous peace negotiations to collapse.

Baghaei noted that senior Pakistani officials have arrived in Tehran to further mediation efforts, but cautioned, "We cannot say that we have reached a point where an agreement is close." He described the peace process as ongoing but "neither unnatural nor natural," adding that the differences between Iran and the US are "so deep and numerous" that he cannot give a definitive estimate for when an agreement may be reached.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has publicly rejected Iran's latest proposal, calling it "totally unacceptable" in a post on Truth Social. The details of the Iranian proposal, as reported by Tasnim and cited by the Jerusalem Post, include lifting sanctions on Iranian oil sales over a 30-day period and ending the naval blockade on Iran. The proposal also reportedly stressed the need to end the war on all fronts.

According to The Wall Street Journal, as referenced by the Jerusalem Post, Iran's response did not meet US demands regarding its nuclear program and enriched uranium. Iran reportedly proposed diluting its enriched uranium stockpile and transferring part of it, but the specifics of this proposal have not been independently verified.