US envoy demands UN inspectors back in Iran, end to enrichment — The Guardian

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has tightened Washington’s demands on Iran regarding any potential peace agreement, per The Guardian.

He called for the return of UN nuclear inspectors, the removal of Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium, and restrictions on its missile program.

Tehran has long rejected US diplomatic calls to curb its nuclear program and military activities, calling them a violation of its sovereignty by a “hostile” power.

Earlier, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, speaking at his weekly press conference said it was a lie to suggest that the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in touch with the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss a possible diplomatic deal.

The Iranian government is bracing itself for a fresh US and Israeli missile assault after the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group deployed key assets to the region.

Baghaei added that Iran’s armed forces are “carefully monitoring every movement” and warned that sending forces and making threats “goes against the principles of the international system” and threatened that “if these principles are violated, insecurity will befall everyone”. He then said “we will give a comprehensive and regrettable response to any aggression”.

The United Arab Emirates declared it will not allow its airspace or territorial waters to be used to mount an attack on Iran, but the presence of the carrier strike group in the Mediterranean means permission will not be needed from many third parties for an attack.

Uncertainty remains as to whether the US will attack Iran.

By Khagan Isayev