Correspondent in Germany
Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are faltering over whether Iran will be permitted to enrich Uranium and fluctuating US demands, two diplomatic sources in Tehran told Iran International.
Despite Tehran agreeing to expanded inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the dispute over enrichment has cast doubt over the timing and direction of the next round of negotiations, originally scheduled to resume this week after being delayed in Oman.
“Iran has accepted strict and intensive inspections by IAEA inspectors, and the two sides have reached an understanding on verification and control mechanisms,” an Iranian diplomatic source familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity.
“The key disagreement is over Iran’s right to enrich uranium domestically—something the American side opposes,” the source said, adding that the US team's shifting goals were complicating the negotiations.
“In every round, the Americans bring up new topics—missiles, proxies—without a consistent framework.”
A second diplomatic source confirmed that Iran had agreed to restrain its regional allies, including by asking the Houthis to temporarily halt attacks, partly to deny Israel what he called a "pretext" to obstruct diplomacy.
US officials contacted by Iran International declined to comment on the specifics of the talks but acknowledged the urgency and fragility of the moment.
“Time is short and we need to make progress quickly. To make that happen, the Iranians need to negotiate in good faith and sincerely desire to reach a deal,” a State Department spokesperson told Iran International.
Internal Divisions in Tehran
Meanwhile Iran too has fissures of its own on the talks dossier, with hardliners continuing to criticize the talks but negotiators still appearing determined to clinch a fair deal to avoid war.
“There’s a difference between building media credibility and childish competition for scoops,” Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran, an adviser to Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, posted on X on Tuesday.
“Agencies and esteemed officials who receive classified reports must protect them. Leaking information to favored outlets undermines national interests,” he added, in an apparent reference to a report published the day before by Nour News, a site close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani.
The outlet cited an anonymous source saying the fourth round of talks would focus on “humanitarian and security concerns," without elaborating, suggesting that the negotiations had expanded beyond the nuclear dossier—something never mentioned by officials involved in the talks.
A diplomatic source told Iran International that unauthorized disclosures could undermine the Iranian negotiating team.
The announcement comes as Tehran accelerates work on two new reactor units at the site and reiterates its long-term commitment to nuclear energy amid stalling US nuclear talks.
The head of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Reza Banazadeh, said the 1,000-megawatt (MW) facility is now fully prepared to contribute to the national grid during the hottest months of the year.
Daily electricity consumption in Iran can vary, with peaks reaching over 72,000 MW, exceeding the actual power generation capacity of 60,000 MW during the summer.
Since its commissioning, the plant has generated more than 72 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to saving over 110 million barrels of oil, Banazadeh said in an interview with Iranian state media.
"Nuclear energy is one of the safest, cleanest, and most cost-effective sources of power,” Banazadeh said, adding the plant avoids burning fossil fuels and thereby prevents the emission of an estimated 7 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Bushehr, Iran’s first commercial nuclear facility, sits on the Persian Gulf and is central to the country’s broader nuclear ambitions.
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said earlier this year that 5,000 workers are involved in the construction of Units 2 and 3, which are expected to triple the plant’s output when completed.
“Our aim is to increase nuclear power capacity to 20,000 megawatts by 2041,” Banazadeh said, adding that new projects across the country will help meet rising energy demands and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
While Iranian officials highlight the civilian and environmental benefits of nuclear energy, the program remains under international scrutiny amid concerns about its potential military dimensions.
Tehran maintains its program is peaceful and conducted under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) despite the restrictions that Tehran has put on the agency’s activities such as expelling inspectors and reducing monitoring equipment.
Tensions around Iran's nuclear facilities resurfaced in recent months, with Israel and the US warning of potential military action. During a February visit to Bushehr, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned: “If they strike a hundred [nuclear sites], we will build a thousand more ... They can hit the buildings, but they cannot erase the minds of our scientists.”
US President Donald Trump, in a Fox News interview, said he would prefer a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but acknowledged concerns over possible Israeli military action.
Iran's air force commander Hamid Vahedi said that the country’s defense posture is deterrent but warned of “forceful” retaliation if attacked.
Despite geopolitical strains, Iran’s nuclear chief Eslami highlighted the use of domestically manufactured equipment and engineering milestones in the Bushehr expansion, including 34,000 rod injections to stabilize the reactors’ foundations and a record 22,000 cubic meters of concrete poured in a single day.
The AEOI aims to increase this figure to 65,000 cubic meters daily next year, showing Iran’s intent to push ahead with nuclear infrastructure development.
The IAEA has not yet commented on the latest developments at Bushehr.
Iran's cooperation with the IAEA remains central to international efforts monitoring and constraining its nuclear program under a potential new deal, with the next round of indirect Iran-US negotiations scheduled for this weekend.
The updated legislation, signed into effect on Tuesday by President Masoud Pezeshkian, imposes harsher sentences for unlicensed gun possession and criminalizes the use of digital platforms to promote or sell weapons.
But Telegram remains awash in posts advertising weapons for prices between 200 million and 1.8 billion rials—roughly $240 to $2,200 at the current exchange rate of 820,000 rials per US dollar.
In one 17,000-member channel, a vendor offered a Glock 17 pistol for 280 million rials ($340), a Makarov for 240 million ($290), and a Turkish-made Colt .45 for 360 million ($440). For higher-end buyers, a Kalashnikov was listed at 1.7 billion rials ($2,070), including a video showing it wrapped in cloth beside two full magazines.
“Payment is in Tether,” said one seller when contacted anonymously via Telegram, referring to a cryptocurrency. “Once confirmed, you’ll receive a location—usually a locker in a shopping mall. You have two hours to retrieve it.”
Posing as a buyer we messaged five sellers across different channels. All insisted on cryptocurrency, none offered verification and two responded with identical language and price lists—raising doubts about authenticity.
But sources in Tehran familiar with the illicit trade said the market is not entirely fake. “There are scams, yes,” one source said. “But there are many real vendors. People share experiences, and some of these sellers have been delivering for years.”
Iran’s newly amended firearms law significantly broadens the scope of punishable offenses. Beyond illegal possession, it targets sellers, repairers and those who promote or advertise firearms online.
Penalties range from three to fifteen years in prison depending on the type of weapon, with automatic firearms, heavy arms, and military-grade munitions drawing the harshest sentences.
A clause in the law also authorizes authorities to seize properties, vehicles, or storage facilities used in connection with arms crimes.
According to the text, any digital promotion, sale, or training activity linked to firearms is subject to prosecution.
The law also tightens control over airguns, mandating that those in possession of PCP rifles over 40 joules must surrender them within three months or face penalties equivalent to those for illegal hunting rifles. Owners of PCPs under the threshold must apply for a license.
Still, on Telegram, enforcement appears limited. Sellers openly post weapons and use emojis of guns, bombs, and fire to attract attention.
Sources say these weapons are often smuggled in from Turkey, Iraq, or via the Persian Gulf and may be resold multiple times through local intermediaries. “The dealers who actually deliver have networks,” said a source in Tehran. “They use trusted people. Some even have police protection.”
Iran’s black market extends far beyond guns. Unlicensed alcohol, sex work under the guise of massage services, and a growing narcotics scene—from cocaine to synthetic pills—share the same digital infrastructure, relying on anonymity, encrypted platforms, and rapid logistics.
While authorities promise firm implementation of the new law, Telegram channels remain easy to find and quick to rebrand. For buyers, the market is a gamble. But according to those familiar with Tehran’s illicit economy, enough vendors deliver to keep demand alive.
