Reuters: Iran set to reject US nuclear proposal, citing its "one-sided" nature

Iran is preparing to formally reject a recent U.S. proposal aimed at resolving the long-standing nuclear dispute, according to a senior Iranian diplomat familiar with the negotiations.

In a conversation with Reuters, the official described the offer as a "non-starter," asserting that it fails to address Tehran’s core interests or ease Washington’s position on uranium enrichment, Caliber.Az reports.

The U.S. plan, delivered on Saturday by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi—who has been mediating between Tehran and Washington—comes after five rounds of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Despite these discussions, several significant obstacles remain unresolved.

Key sticking points include Iran’s refusal to halt uranium enrichment on its soil, reject demands to ship its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium abroad, and the insistence on the immediate lifting of all U.S. sanctions impacting its vital oil economy. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, rejecting Western accusations of weaponisation ambitions.

The diplomat, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, emphasized that the U.S. proposal “does not change its stance on enrichment within Iran” and lacks clarity on the removal of sanctions. “The U.S. offer is completely one-sided and attempts to impose a ‘bad deal’ through excessive demands,” the diplomat added.

Tehran’s negotiating committee, operating under the supervision of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, views the proposal as unfavourable and unlikely to serve Iran’s interests. A formal response from Iran is expected soon.

Since abandoning the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, the Trump administration has reinstated and intensified sanctions, targeting dozens of key Iranian economic institutions, including its central bank and national oil company. These sanctions, part of a "maximum pressure" campaign, have severely impacted Iran's economy.

The 2015 accord had limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief from the U.S., EU, and U.N., but its collapse led Iran to expand uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits.

Washington insists that nuclear-related sanctions be lifted gradually, while Tehran demands an immediate end to all U.S. sanctions. With these fundamental differences unresolved, the future of the nuclear negotiations remains uncertain.

By Khagan Isayev