Iran announced plans to submit a counter-proposal to the United States following a U.S. offer Tehran deemed "unacceptable" in ongoing nuclear negotiations. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the new proposal, to be delivered via Oman, will be “reasonable, logical, and balanced.”
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed talks would continue but highlighted key sticking points, particularly Iran’s uranium enrichment. “They seek enrichment. We can’t have enrichment,” Trump stated, emphasizing the U.S. stance against allowing nuclear fuel production on Iranian soil.
While Trump mentioned a potential round of talks on Thursday, both Iranian and U.S. officials noted that date was unlikely. Baghaei later said the next round of indirect negotiations, involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, was being scheduled for Sunday in Muscat. U.S. sources also cited Friday or Sunday, with Oman or Oslo as possible locations.
Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has firmly rejected the U.S. proposal, insisting on continuing enrichment for what it claims are peaceful purposes. Tehran also demands concrete economic relief and the restoration of normal banking and trade relations before agreeing to any sanctions relief.
An Iranian diplomat told Reuters that the U.S. plan fails to address core issues like uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, the export of enriched stockpiles, and trustworthy sanctions rollback measures. Iran accuses the West of ignoring Israel’s nuclear arsenal while pressuring Iran.
Baghaei added that sensitive Israeli documents may soon be released to expose what he calls Western hypocrisy in nuclear policy. He urged negotiators not to let Israel derail diplomatic progress.
The standoff continues as both sides seek a breakthrough to revive a deal once scrapped by Trump in 2018.