‘They’ve turned the clock back centuries’: Iran power cuts mar daily life

“Zero enrichment is the code name for the consortium,” the IRGC-linked daily Javan wrote on Monday, referring to a plan that would effectively eliminate Iran’s domestic refinement of uranium.

The details of Washington’s proposal have not been officially revealed, but Javan asserted in its editorial that the draft calls for Iran to halt enrichment entirely.

Another conservative outlet, Khorasan, front-paged the story with the headline Suspicious Proposal.

“Based on available evidence, it is highly unlikely that the proposal delivered by Oman’s foreign minister will address Iran’s key demands,” wrote the daily, which is aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office.

Khorasan questioned why US negotiator Steve Witkoff sent the proposal through a mediator rather than delivering it directly to his Iranian counterpart during the upcoming round of Tehran-Washington negotiations.

A consortium would pose a threat to the security of Iran’s nuclear program, the paper argued, asserting that another round of talks would only take place if Iran accepts the proposal.

As of Monday evening in Tehran, the only official response to the proposal came from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said during a visit to Cairo that the proposal is unfair.

The hardline publication Kayhan, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Khamenei, also lambasted the idea.

“There is no sign of goodwill in the United States’ proposal. Its sole aim is to weaken and dismantle Iran’s peaceful nuclear program,” the daily wrote in a Monday editorial, stopping short of ruling out a compromise.

“Any retreat without guarantees will only invite further pressure,” it warned.

Major reformist outlet Etemad echoed the sentiment, differing only slightly in tone.

“Even if Iran accepts the proposal, there is no guarantee that the United States will uphold its commitments,” the daily quoted foreign policy scholar Mohsen Jalilvand.

Jalilvand pointed to a push by European powers to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism of UN sanctions suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal, asserting that the United States would welcome the added pressure on Tehran.

Meanwhile, Morteza Maki, an expert on European affairs, stated that developments in Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom point to a coordinated effort to activate the trigger mechanism, which would reinstate all previous sanctions on Iran.

Despite mounting pressure—including threats from Israel—Maki said Tehran and Washington may still be able to strike an agreement.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokeswoman for the Iranian government, told reporters in Tehran that Washington’s “contradictory statements” were complicating the process and undermining trust.

“We are prepared for every scenario, but we will not leave the negotiating table,” Mohajerani said.

Reported offer diverges from US public line

A key source of friction is a draft proposal delivered to Iran on Saturday by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating between Tehran and Washington.

The document outlines a possible framework under which Iran could maintain limited low-level uranium enrichment on its soil, according to Axios and other US media outlets.

This reported flexibility contrasts with public remarks from senior US officials, including White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have repeatedly said Washington would not permit any uranium enrichment and would demand full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The proposal also includes limits on future enrichment, the dismantling of certain facilities, and phased sanctions relief tied to compliance verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Tehran says proposal lacks guarantees

Iranian officials have responded skeptically. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the proposal lacked credible assurances on sanctions relief — a central Iranian demand.

A senior Iranian diplomat told Reuters the offer was a “non-starter,” citing inconsistencies between the US public position and what was conveyed in the draft.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, speaking during a visit to Cairo, confirmed that Tehran is still drafting its formal response.

Iran seen preparing negative response - Reuters

According to Reuters, a senior Iranian diplomat said Tehran is drafting a negative response to the US proposal, which could amount to a rejection. The unnamed diplomat cited by Reuters described the offer as failing to address Iran’s key demands, including recognition of its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Sources close to Iran’s negotiating team also criticized what they view as Washington’s shifting stance, which they say has created uncertainty about US intentions and credibility, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

CNN on Monday also reported that the next round of nuclear talks is “very uncertain and may not happen at all,” citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

A senior Iranian official told the network the US proposal was “incoherent and disjointed” and conflicted with the understandings reached during the fifth round in Rome. The official added that “the fact that the Americans constantly change their positions” has become a major obstacle to progress.

US officials reject claim of bad faith

Israel Hayom reported on Monday that American officials expected Tehran to accept some elements and object to others.

The outlet, citing unnamed US sources, said that the administration believes Iran’s response will be more measured and that further talks remain possible. A US official quoted in the outlet said negotiators could begin by addressing areas where the gaps are narrower.

The official also said that negotiations would not continue indefinitely and that all options remain under consideration.

Trump publicly contradicts reported offer

President Donald Trump added to the confusion on Monday when he wrote on Truth Social: “Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!”

The statement directly contradicts media accounts of the proposal delivered to Tehran, which permits limited enrichment under strict international oversight — a provision aimed at accommodating Iran’s long-standing demand for civilian nuclear rights.

The gap between Trump’s public stance and the reported content of the offer has become a central point of contention for Iranian officials, who accuse Washington of negotiating in bad faith.

US senator demands transparency over reported ‘side deal’

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday warned that the Trump administration may be pursuing a side arrangement with Iran outside the scope of congressional oversight.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer cited the Axios report and urged the administration to clarify whether informal commitments have been made. He said the alleged deal, if true, contradicts earlier statements by Rubio and Witkoff and risks undermining accountability.

Schumer also said any future agreement must address not only nuclear safeguards but also Iran’s support for regional militant groups.

The registry, one of the world’s largest with over 8,500 vessels, has come under renewed pressure from the US and watchdog groups over its role in what they describe as enabling illicit oil shipments from Iran. Ships removed from the Panamanian registry can no longer operate under the country’s flag.

The move follows criticism from US-based United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which accused Panama of being the "flag of choice" for Iranian oil trade in violation of US sanctions.

UANI says nearly 17% of vessels suspected of transporting Iranian crude sail under Panama's flag, using tactics such as flag-hopping, false ownership documentation, and disabling tracking systems.

“This is not just a failure of Panama's registry. It’s a direct threat to global sanctions compliance and regional and US security,” UANI said in a statement last month.

Panama has defended its enforcement record, citing Executive Decree No. 512, which empowers authorities to deregister ships linked to sanctioned entities. In March, 107 vessels were removed, with 18 more under review.

The Maritime Authority said it has reinforced controls on ship-to-ship operations and is collaborating closely with the United States to prevent sanctions evasion.

In 2019, Panama signed an agreement with Liberia and the Marshall Islands to exchange data on suspect vessels.

The measures come as Iran expands its oil exports, despite sanctions. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad recently announced a production boost of 150,000 barrels per day, with plans to increase daily oil and gas output further through $10 billion in new energy projects.

While Tehran has not addressed the UANI report directly, it has consistently rejected US sanctions as illegitimate and maintains that its exports are legal under international law.

In recent months, the US has stepped up enforcement efforts, seizing Iranian tankers in the Persian Gulf. Some vessels were found using forged Iraqi documents, according to Iraqi officials.

“I hope that, in light of the new regional conditions and Lebanon’s new circumstances, a new chapter of respectful relations between Iran and Lebanon will begin,” Araghchi said at Rafic Hariri Airport.

Araghchi also met with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, and is also scheduled to meet the country’s president, parliament speaker and prime minister during his visit.

Lebanon elected Joseph Aoun as its new president in January 2025 — a figure backed by the United States who is now working to strengthen the army and counterbalance Hezbollah's influence after the Iran-backed militant group was severely weakened by Israel last year in a spate of high-stakes military operations.

Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, said in late May that "the era of exporting the Iranian revolution is over," adding, "We will not remain silent in the face of weapons outside the control of the state."

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Lebanon’s army has largely disarmed Hezbollah in its southern strongholds — in part with the help of Israeli intelligence.

The country’s new government continues enforcing a fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, which began last year but has seen both sides alleging scores of breaches from the other.

Araghchi made no mention of these developments in his remarks and instead said that Iran would continue to support Lebanon against Israel, while stressing that this support does not amount to interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

“Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are of great importance to us and to the entire region,” he said. “We have supported Lebanon’s sovereignty at all stages, and we will continue to do so against the Zionist regime’s occupation — this is simply the support of a friend for its friends and not an act of interference.”

“No country in the region has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other regional countries,” he added.

BBC Persian staff members' relatives in Iran are being subjected to arbitrary interrogations, travel bans, passport confiscations and threats of asset seizures, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement.

“These acts are clearly designed to exploit family ties as a means of coercion,” Davie said, adding Tehran authorities were “pressuring our journalists to abandon their work or return to Iran under false pretences.”

Iranian authorities have targeted its Persian language journalists covering the country over the past decade, the BBC says, prompting the broadcaster to lodge urgent complaints with the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 and again in 2022.

The British public broadcaster is preparing to lodge a new complaint with the UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures, according to its statement on Monday.

In recent years, other journalists from other Persian-language outlets including those from Iran International have reported similar attempts at intimidation.

In May 2025, British authorities arrested and charged three Iranian nationals—Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori—under the UK's National Security Act.

They are accused of conducting surveillance and reconnaissance activities targeting Iran International journalists inside the United Kingdom.

The threats against Iran International staff have become a recurrent issue, dating back to 2022 when London's Metropolitan Police revealed plots against staff in London. In 2023, the threats reached a climax with the UK's MI5 saying it could no longer protect the team, forcing a temporary relocation to the US.

In March 2024, Pouria Zeraati, the television host of the "Last Word" program on Iran International, was stabbed by a group of unidentified individuals as he exited his residence in London.

Journalism watchdog Reporters Without Borders said last year that Tehran was carrying out "systematic targeting of journalists reporting on Iran from abroad, in an effort to silence them."

"London, home to major Persian-language broadcasters, has been a hotspot for such attacks because of the large number of Iranian journalists based there," the group added.