On Sunday, Iran said it had received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks, one day after Trump said he would probably reject Tehran’s proposal because “they have not paid a big enough price.”
Asked by reporters on Sunday evening about the talks, Trump said they were going “very well,” but did not elaborate.
Iranian state media said Washington sent its response to Tehran’s 14-point proposal through Pakistan and that Iran was reviewing it. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Islamabad.
“At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” Iranian state media quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying.
The remark appeared to refer to Iran’s proposal to postpone nuclear talks until after the war ends, and both sides agree to lift rival blockades on Gulf shipping.
The United States and Israel halted their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and US and Iranian officials held one round of talks. Efforts to arrange further meetings have so far been unsuccessful.
Iran’s proposal to delay nuclear negotiations appears to clash with Washington’s demand that Tehran accept strict limits on its nuclear programme before the war can end.
Washington wants Iran to surrender its stockpile of more than 400 kg, or 900 pounds, of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could be used to make a bomb.
Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, though it is prepared to discuss some curbs in return for sanctions relief. Tehran had accepted such limits under a 2015 agreement that Trump later abandoned.
Trump has said he is in no rush, but he faces domestic pressure to break Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, which has cut off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices.
His Republican Party also faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices in midterm congressional elections due in November.
Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal includes the withdrawal of US forces from nearby areas, an end to the blockade, the release of frozen assets, compensation payments, sanctions relief, an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the creation of a new control mechanism for the strait.
Reuters