Page 7 - Iran Nuclear Agreement

Trump hints at announcement in 'next two days' on Iran nuclear talks

President Donald Trump on Sunday indicated there was progress with Iran on its nuclear programme and hinted that an announcement could come in the next two days. He was notably more upbeat than the Omani mediator of the talks between the United States and Iran, who said Friday that the two nations made some but not conclusive progress in the fifth round of negotiations in Rome. We've had some very, very good talks with Iran, Trump told reporters in northern New Jersey after leaving his golf club, where he spent most of the weekend. And I don't know if I'll be telling you anything good or bad over the next two days, but I have a feeling I might be telling you something good." He emphasised that we've had some real progress, serious progress" in talks that took place on Saturday and Sunday. Let's see what happens, but I think we could have some good news on the Iran front, Trump said. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director, ...

Iran vows to keep enriching uranium ahead of nuclear talks with US

Iran's top diplomat insisted Wednesday that Tehran will never stop enriching uranium, reinforcing the Islamic Republic's hard line ahead of a new round of indirect talks with the United States over its fast-advancing nuclear programme. The comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi come after multiple rounds of talks between the two nations, including at an expert level over the details of a possible deal. However, none has been reached yet, and American officials including President Donald Trump, Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintain that Iran must give up enrichment something it didn't do in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. I have said it before, and I repeat it again: uranium enrichment in Iran will continue with or without an agreement, Araghchi said, according to state television. Araghchi added that Iran is currently reviewing whether to participate in the next round and when to take part in talks with the US. Trump's trip

Tehran won't seek anyone's permission to enrich uranium: Ayatollah Khamenei

IRNA also reported that Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister, said that Tehran had received a proposal regarding the next round of indirect talks with Washington

Trump says US nearing nuclear deal with Iran, but some gaps remain

Trump claimed Iran had "sort of" accepted the nuclear deal terms, a day after calling Iran "the most destructive force" in West Asia at a US-Saudi investment forum in Riyadh

Only two solutions for Iran are 'intelligent' or 'brutal', warns Trump

President Donald Trump kept up pressure Thursday on Iran, warning Tehran that a deal over its nuclear programme or potentially airstrikes are the only two solutions to the diplomatic impasse. Speaking in Qatar before business leaders, Trump said: We'd like to see if we could solve the Iran problem in an intelligent way, as opposed to a brutal way. There's only two: intelligent and brutal. Those are the two alternatives. Trump also said that Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, had been pushing for diplomatic deal over Iran's nuclear programme. Qatar shares a massive offshore oil and gas field that's crucial to its wealth with Iran. I said last night that Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he's actually fighting for them. He doesn't want us to do a vicious blow to Iran, Trump said. He says, You can make a deal. You can make a deal.' He's really fighting. And I really mean this: I think that Iran should say a big thank you to the emir. At another point, Tru

Trump urges Qatar to help persuade Iran to abandon nuclear programme

President Donald Trump urged Qatar on Wednesday to use its influence over Iran to persuade the country's leadership to reach an agreement with the US to dial back its rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Trump, who is visiting the Gulf nation as part of a three-country Mideast swing, made the appeal during a state dinner held in his honour by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar, over the years, has played the role of intermediary between the US and Iran and its proxies, including during talks with Tehran-backed Hamas as its 19-month war with Israel grinds on. I hope you can help me with the Iran situation, Trump said during remarks at the formal dinner. It's a perilous situation, and we want to do the right thing." Trump wants Iran to stop backing militant proxy groups The appeal to Qatar came after Trump told leaders at a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting earlier Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that he wants to make a deal," but Tehran must end its support of p

US imposes sanctions on companies it says sent Iranian oil to China

The network facilitated the shipment of oil worth billions of dollars to China on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its front company, Sepehr Energy, Treasury said

Netanyahu's criticism of Iran's nuclear programme muted with Trump in power

When the US and Iran met for nuclear talks a decade ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against an emerging deal from the world's most public stages, including in a fiery speech to Congress seen as a direct challenge to the Obama administration as it was wrapping up the talks. Now, as the sides sit down to discuss a new deal, Netanyahu has fallen silent. Netanyahu sees an Iran with nuclear weapons as an existential threat to Israel, and he is just as wary of any new US agreement with its archenemy that may not meet his standards. Yet he finds himself shackled with Donald Trump in the White House. Netanyahu is unwilling to publicly criticise a president who has shown broad support for Israel, whom he deems to be Israel's greatest friend, and who doesn't take well to criticism. He can't do anything that goes against Trump. He's paralysed, said Yoel Guzansky, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv-based think tank. Israel is in a .

Trump threatens sanctions over Iranian oil: What it means for India, China

US-Iran talks, scheduled for May 3rd, have been postponed due to 'logistical reasons'

Next round of nuclear talks with US will be held in Rome, says Iran's FM

Iran said Wednesday the next round of negotiations over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme it will have with the United States will be in Rome on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comment on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, adding that Iran also anticipated having a meeting Friday with France, Germany and the United Kingdom to discuss the talks. The talks with the US again will be mediated by Oman. The sultanate has hosted two rounds of talks in Oman's capital, Muscat, and one round at its embassy in Rome. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's programme if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to ne

Iran, US resume negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme in secluded Oman

Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme will return Saturday to the secluded sultanate of Oman, where experts on both sides will start hammering the technical details of any possible deal. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's programme if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Neither Iran nor the US have offered any explanation on why the talks will return to the Omani capital of Muscat, nestled in the Hajar Mountains. Oman has been a mediator between the countries. Last weekend's talks in Rome offered a more-equal flight distance between Iranian Foreign Minister Ab

Iran to allow team for talks on restoring nuclear checks, says UN watchdog

Iran has agreed to allow in an International Atomic Energy Agency technical team in the coming days to discuss restoring camera surveillance at nuclear sites, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Wednesday, calling it an encouraging signal of Iran's attitude toward nuclear talks with the United States. Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking to reporters in Washington after meeting with Iranian officials in Tehran last week, joined the American and Iranian sides in projecting optimism after a second round of negotiations Saturday over the Islamic Republic's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Technical-level talks were expected this week. Iranian leaders were engaged with a sense of trying to get to an agreement," Grossi said. That is my impression. The US is looking to ensure Iran doesn't develop nuclear weapons, while Iran wants the easing of sanctions that have damaged its economy. After President Donald Trump pulled the US out of an Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in his fir

Iran-US nuclear talks move to expert level, signal progress but no deal yet

Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program will move Wednesday to what's known as the expert level a sign analysts say shows that the talks are moving forward rapidly. However, experts not involved in the talks who spoke with The Associated Press warn that this doesn't necessarily signal a deal is imminent. Instead, it means that the talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff haven't broken down at what likely is the top-level trade Tehran limiting its atomic program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Agreeing to technical talks suggests both sides are expressing pragmatic, realistic objectives for the negotiations and want to explore the details, said Kelsey Davenport, the director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association who long has studied Iran's nuclear program. If Witkoff was making maximalist demands during his talks with Araghchi, such as ..

Iran, US to resume nuclear talks in Oman after Rome meeting concludes

The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday that the next round of talks with the United States over Iran's advancing nuclear programme will be in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff on April 26. But experts will meet there in the days before. The comments by Abbas Araghchi suggest movement in the second round of talks between the two countries, held Saturday in Rome. There was no immediate readout from the US side after the several hours of meetings at the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighbourhood. The talks were held in a constructive environment and I can say that is moving forward, Araghchi told Iranian state television. I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.

Iran, US begins second round of nuclear talks in Rome amid tensions

Iran and the United States will hold a second round of talks in Rome on Saturday over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. The talks represent a milestone in the fraught relations between the two nations over Iran's programme, which is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Here's a timeline of the tensions between the two countries over Iran's atomic programme. Early days 1967 Iran takes possession of its Tehran Research Reactor under America's Atoms for Peace programme. 1979 Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill, flees Iran as popular protests against him surge. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran and the Islamic Revolution sweeps him to power. Students seize the United States Embassy in Tehran, beginning the 444-day hostage crisis. Iran's nuclear program goes fallow under international pressure. August 2002 Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal Iran's secret Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. June 2003 Britai

Next round of nuclear talks in Oman, says Iran after officials name Rome

The talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program had appeared ready Monday to leave the Middle East, as an Italian source and others said the next round of negotiations would take place in Rome. However, Iran early Tuesday insisted they'd again be held in Oman. It wasn't immediately clear where the negotiations would be held after Tehran's overnight announcement. American officials have not said where the talks would be held. President Donald Trump separately complained Monday about the pace of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran as the two countries start a new round of pivotal negotiations. I think they're tapping us along, he said in the Oval Office during a meeting with El Salvador's president. The next meeting had been expected to take place on Saturday in Rome, according to a source in the Italian government who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. ...

Iran warns of acquiring nuclear weapons after Trump's 'bombing' threat

Ali Larijani, an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said while Iran was not pursuing nuclear weapons, an attack would leave it with no choice but to defend itself, according to media reports

Iran responds to letter from Trump as he seeks to jumpstart nuclear talks

Iranian state media said Thursday that Iran has sent an official response to a letter from US President Donald Trump to the Iranian supreme leader that was seen as an attempt to jumpstart talks over Tehran's nuclear programme. The Iranian response was appropriately sent through Oman on Wednesday, state-run IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying. No details have been released of the Iranian response nor the contents of Trump's letter to 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which came as the Trump administration levied new sanctions on Iran as part of its maximum pressure campaign. Araghchi, which not discussing details of the letters, said that Iran's policy "remains firm on not engaging in direct negotiations under maximum pressure and military threats. However, he said that indirect talks, which have taken place under previous administrations, could continue. Trump letter was handed to Iranian officials by Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, while h

China, Russia urge end to US sanctions on Iran, restart of nuclear talks

Representatives of China, Russia and Iran called Friday for an end to US sanctions on Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program and a restart to multinational talks on the issue. The talks are the latest attempt to broach the matter and come after US President Donald Trump wrote to Iran's supreme leader in an attempt to jumpstart talks. The letter, which hasn't been published, was offered as Trump levied new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign that holds out the possibility of military action while emphasising he still believed a new deal could be reached. The three nations who met Friday morning emphasised the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu read from a joint statement, flanked by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on t

Iran asks Trump to end threats, pressure tactics if it wants nuclear talks

Iran is among the most sanctioned countries in the world and the vast majority of the penalties are enforced by the US government and directly target crucial oil exports