Iran’s
Foreign Ministry said that the last round of negotiations resulted in an
agreement to form a ‘general framework’ for a nuclear deal
Nuclear
negotiations between Tehran and Washington have been progressing “better than
expected,” according to sources cited by Al-Araby al-Jadeed on 22 April.
“We expect an
agreement between Tehran and Washington within the next two months, possibly
sooner. The Iranian–American negotiations are progressing better than
expected,” the sources said.
“The Iranian
side was surprised by the behavior of the American negotiator, showing
seriousness, urgency, and a lack of non-nuclear related, unrealistic demands so
far. There is US approval of the principle of Iran's right to enrich uranium,”
they added.
The sources
went on to say that Iran “has presented suggestions to reassure the other party
regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.”
A second round
of Omani-mediated nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington took place in
Rome on 19 April, a week after the first round in Muscat.
Both sides
agreed to establish working groups to draft a “general framework” for a
potential new nuclear deal, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
Technical
delegations from the US and Iran are due to meet in the Omani capital on
Wednesday for detailed discussions regarding issues such as uranium enrichment.
A senior US
official was cited as saying in western media reports over the weekend that
there was “very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions.” Iran
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also noted that progress was made on certain
points.
The Islamic
Republic has rejected a dismantlement of its uranium enrichment capabilities,
which US envoy Steve Witkoff publicly called for recently.
However, Tehran
has reportedly proposed a cap on its enrichment to satisfy Washington and
ensure that its nuclear program is peaceful, according to Iran International.
A senior
Iranian official cited in a New York Times (NYT) report on Saturday said that
Iran has “raised the possibility of a joint venture to run its nuclear
enrichment facilities.”
Iran is “open
to transferring its stockpile of enriched uranium to Russia or another nation,
much as it did in early 2016 as the Obama-era [JCPOA] deal went into effect,”
the source added.
Ali Vaez, the
Iran Director of the International Crisis Group, told NYT that “talks advancing
to the technical phase showed a level of pragmatism,” and that US calls for a
complete end to Iran’s enrichment is likely “public posturing.”
US President
Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened Iran with a bombing campaign in the
weeks leading up to the negotiations.
Israel has for
years been devising plots for a large-scale attack on Iranian nuclear
facilities. Tel Aviv has recently said that the only US–Iran deal it would find
acceptable is one that completely eliminates Tehran’s nuclear program.
An NYT report
from last week cited sources as saying that Trump rejected an Israeli proposal
for a joint attack against Iranian nuclear facilities, opting instead to pursue
negotiations. Trump responded by saying he was in no rush for an attack.
Israeli Foreign
Minister Gideon Saar denied the report in an interview with The Telegraph
published on 19 April.
The
Treasury Department issued sanctions targeting an Iranian liquefied petroleum
gas firm as part of Trump's 'maximum pressure' campaign against Tehran
The US Treasury
Department issued new sanctions on 22 April targeting Iranian liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) magnate Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network amid
ongoing talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Emamjomeh's
network is responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of
Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets, the Treasury said in a statement.
Also known as
“cooking gas” or “canister gas,” LPG is used for cooking, heating, and powering
vehicles.
According to
the US Treasury, “Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the
administration’s maximum pressure campaign.”
The new
sanctions were imposed as reports emerged on Tuesday that nuclear negotiations
between Tehran and Washington have been progressing “better than expected,”
according to sources cited by Al-Araby al-Jadeed.
“We expect an
agreement between Tehran and Washington within the next two months, possibly
sooner. The Iranian–American negotiations are progressing better than
expected,” the sources said.
“The Iranian
side was surprised by the behavior of the American negotiator, showing
seriousness, urgency, and a lack of non-nuclear related, unrealistic demands so
far. There is US approval of the principle of Iran's right to enrich uranium,”
they added.
The sources
went on to say that Iran “has presented suggestions to reassure the other party
regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.”
A second round
of Omani-mediated nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington took place in
Rome on 19 April, a week after the first round in Muscat.
The US and
Israel claim Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its
nuclear program is for civilian purposes and that developing a nuclear weapon
would be un-Islamic.
Iran and the US
signed an agreement in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA), placing limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions
relief.
During his
first term in office, US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the
JCPOA and launched a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against Iran.
Trump restored
the maximum pressure policy after returning to the White House in January.
However, he has since indicated a willingness to negotiate a new deal to
replace the 2015 JCPOA.
On 12 March,
Trump sent a letter to Iran’s leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a
new deal and threatening military action if Tehran refused.
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