The US president has reportedly requested that Iran make additional commitments on its nuclear program
US President Donald Trump has toughened the terms of peace talks with Iran, the New York Times and Axios reported on Saturday, citing officials familiar with the matter.
On Thursday, the two countries reportedly agreed on a memorandum of understanding that would extend the ceasefire reached in April for another 60 days and restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. A day later, Trump summoned senior national security advisers to the White House Situation Room.
According to the NYT, Trump became concerned about provisions in the proposed agreement that would unfreeze Iranian assets and grew frustrated with the pace of Tehran’s response to previous proposals. The revised terms were intended to increase pressure on the Iranian leaders.
Axios, citing a senior US official, reported that Trump wanted to include “more specifics” in the document regarding when and how the US would recover Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Trump said he was determined to secure a “great deal” that would guarantee “there will be no nuclear weapons” in Iran.
While initially saying he was not in a hurry to reach an agreement, Trump later acknowledged in the same interview that he was “in a hurry because gasoline prices are going up.” He threatened to “finish it off militarily” if Iran did not submit to his demands.
Tehran has repeatedly stated that the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is non-negotiable and has denied that it seeks to acquire nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have also ruled out surrendering enriched uranium to the US.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Trump of “betraying diplomacy,” saying military pressure will not force Iran to make concessions. Chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would not compromise with regard to its sovereign rights.
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