Iran talks may collapse once US presents full list of demands - Israel Hayom

While Tehran believes the only secure agreement with the Trump administration is a treaty signed by US Congress, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been told "it would be anyone’s guess whether Trump could get such an agreement through Congress given the strength of pro-Israeli opinion there," The Guardian reported Sunday.

The issue of congressional approval of a potential deal was earlier raised by Iran during the first round of talks with the United States in Muscat.

In the April 12 talks, Iran's delegation proposed a three-stage plan to the US negotiators envisioning a cap on their uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions, sources told Iran International.

The third and final stage of the plan calls for the US congress to approve the nuclear agreement and for Washington to lift both primary and secondary sanctions, while Iran would transfer its highly enriched uranium stockpiles to a third country.

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During the second round of Tehran-Washington negotiations in Rome, "the parties discussed the overall framework, agenda, and technical topics, and reached certain understandings," Iranian negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi was quoted as saying in a parliamentary briefing.

Gharibabadi made the remarks as he was briefing members of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on the talks held in Rome on Saturday, according to the committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei.

"Iran insists on its right to enrich uranium, and this matter is considered one of the red lines of the Islamic Republic in negotiations," Ghariabadi was quoted as saying by Rezaei.

Gharibabadi added that "Iran is completely serious and will not accept any delays in the negotiation process."

"We are not seeking to build nuclear weapons, and the country’s nuclear activities are carried out solely within peaceful objectives," he was quoted as saying.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has sharply criticized the Iranian government for intensifying its internal repression as international attention focuses on its nuclear negotiations with the United States.

In a statement on Sunday, Ebadi said 85 Baluch prisoners are facing execution and mentioned alleged organized attacks by the Revolutionary Guard on civilians in Zahedan, which she said have led to at least 26 arrests, including children.

"While the media is full of news of negotiations and analyses surrounding them, the Islamic Republic is engaged in internal suppression with all its might," Ebadi said.

She questioned the potential economic benefits of talks for people. "What negotiation and agreement are you talking about? Without a doubt, everyone welcomes economic improvement that benefits the people, but it should not be forgotten that the main negotiation and agreement must be with the people of Iran and with the intention of ending the internal conflict [among dissidents]."

Saudi Arabia's stance on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program has shifted significantly in the past decade, moving from opposition to support as regional dynamics and the kingdom's priorities evolve, according to an analysis by the New York Times.

The writer pointed out that ten years ago, Saudi officials criticized the deal struck by former US President Barack Obama as weak and empowering Iran. However, it added, as a second Trump administration engages in talks with Iran on a potentially similar agreement, Saudi Arabia has expressed hope for a positive outcome, emphasizing the importance of regional stability.

The Riyadh-based writer, Vivian Nereim, attributed this change to several factors, including improved Saudi-Iranian relations and Saudi Arabia's ambitious economic diversification plans, which are threatened by regional tensions and potential conflict.

After years of severed ties, including a complete break in 2016, Iran and Saudi Arabia announced a formal reconciliation in 2023, with China mediating the detente.

The analysis concludes that Iran's increased regional outreach and the shared interest in avoiding escalation have contributed to the Persian Gulf states' support for the ongoing negotiations.

Earlier in the day, Alireza Enayati, Tehran's ambassador to Riyadh, said Saudi Arabia has a positive view of Iran's negotiations.

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A day after the second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States concluded in Rome, Tehran’s major newspapers revealed the ongoing divide between reformists and hardline factions.

While reformist outlets welcomed what they described as swift progress and a move toward technical-level discussions, conservative dailies backed the negotiation team but renewed warnings against what they called US hostility and external opposition from diaspora critics.

Read the full report.

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