Kayhan questions value of nuclear talks, urges shift to ‘active resistance’

Oil prices dropped after it was announced that the fifth round of negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic would take place on Friday in Rome.

Prices had earlier risen on Tuesday following a CNN report citing new US intelligence that Israel was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

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An Iranian lawmaker said growing public awareness has led to greater interest in the details of ongoing negotiations with the United States, despite economic hardships.

“Public awareness has increased. People want to know what we are going to give and what we are going to take,” Hassan Qashqavi said on state TV on Wednesday.

He added that national consensus on red lines is stronger now because “our achievements are more significant.”

The conservative Khorasan newspaper wrote Thursday that US policy has shifted from military threats to driving a wedge between the Iranian public and the government—a long-term project it said will persist regardless of any agreement.

It said this strategy “can empty the negotiators’ support base and block Iran’s desired agreement,” adding, “Trump’s direct access to Iranian public opinion remains dangerous and effective and may repeat throughout his presidency.”

Ali Khamenei’s recent speech “clearly exposed the line of America’s betrayal” and warned the nation against trusting the US, said Ahmad Rastineh, a member of Iran’s parliament on Thursday.

He criticized pro-Western factions in Iran for seeing talks with Washington as a solution. Rastineh said ignoring Khamenei’s guidance had caused unnecessary costs for Iran, calling the Supreme Leader’s stance on nuclear negotiations “wise and transparent”.

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Iranian media reported that the fifth round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington will be held at noon Friday in Rome.

The announcement came after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned the talks may lead nowhere.

“We are still weighing whether to attend the next round,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday, casting uncertainty over Iran’s participation just two days before the meeting.