Tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate over the latter’s nuclear program, with Tehran insisting its uranium enrichment activities are entirely peaceful. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated Iran’s commitment to the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, as US President Donald Trump pushes for the country to completely dismantle its enrichment capability.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with Trump reportedly giving Iran a two-month deadline to make a nuclear deal with the US, threatening “bombing” if it does not accept. Following five rounds of Oman-brokered negotiations, Washington recently set out its terms in a letter. Araghchi, Tehran’s top negotiator in the nuclear talks with the US, stated, “We are ready to give assurances to all sides about the peaceful nature of our nuclear program,” during a press conference in Egypt on Monday.
However, the White House has maintained a firm stance, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has sent a “detailed and acceptable proposal” to Iran. Leavitt emphasized that it’s in Iran’s best interest to accept, reiterating Trump’s position that “Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb.” Tehran, on the other hand, views the US proposal as unfair and unlikely to reach a compromise, with an Iranian source describing it as a “fanciful, one-sided text” that is out of touch with reality.
The US has insisted that Tehran should not be able to enrich its own uranium, even for civilian use, a clause Araghchi has dismissed as a violation of Iran’s sovereign rights. This stalemate comes after Trump accused Tehran of secretly violating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and unilaterally withdrew the US from the deal during his first presidential term. Since then, Tehran has gradually ramped up its domestic uranium enrichment, leading to increased tensions between the two nations.
Iran is now poised to reject the US proposition as a “non-starter,” according to Reuters, citing a senior Iranian diplomat. With Trump’s deadline looming, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. One thing is certain, however: the conflict between the US and Iran over its nuclear program shows no signs of abating, with both sides dug in and unwilling to budge. As the international community watches with bated breath, the question on everyone’s mind is: what’s next for Iran’s nuclear program?
