Iran dismisses claims of US proposals, reaffirms commitment to rights
5 Min Read
Iran says it has received no formal US proposal and reaffirms it will not abandon its right to peaceful nuclear enrichment.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, center, and Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, left, walk through the Muscat International Book Fair in Oman, Friday, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday that Iran has not received any written proposals from the United States, either directly or through intermediaries, amid ongoing speculation over stalled diplomatic efforts to revive the nuclear agreement.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi criticized the contradictory nature of the signals coming from Washington. “The messaging we—and the world—continue to receive is confusing and contradictory,” he said.
Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 16, 2025
In the meantime, the messaging we—and the world—continue to receive is confusing and contradictory. Iran nonetheless remains determined and straightforward: Respect our rights and…
Despite the uncertainty, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s consistent stance: “Respect our rights and terminate your sanctions, and we have a deal.”
The Foreign Minister emphasized Iran’s non-negotiable right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, as enshrined in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment,” he wrote, underscoring that this is a right granted to all NPT signatories.
Araghchi also reiterated Iran’s long-standing diplomatic posture, stressing that Tehran remains open to dialogue rooted in mutual respect but will reject any form of pressure. “The Great Iranian Nation has shown its Power and Fortitude in the face of those who have attempted imposition,” he stated. “We ALWAYS welcome dialogue based on mutual respect and ALWAYS reject any diktat.”
The statement comes amid a flurry of international diplomatic activity and reports that backchannel discussions between Tehran and Washington may be underway. However, Araghchi’s comments suggest that no formal offer has yet been tabled, and that Iran’s conditions remain unchanged.
Axios claims Iran FM received, brought back US response to Tehran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has brought Washington’s nuclear deal proposal back to Tehran for discussions with the country’s leadership, including the leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian, Axios' Barak Ravid reported Friday, citing sources.
"Araghchi took the proposal back to Tehran for consultations with Supreme Leader Khamenei, President Pezeshkian and other top officials," Ravid wrote in a post on X.
The journalist also claimed that the US administration anticipates receiving Iran's response during the next round of negotiations, though a date for those talks has not yet been set.
On Friday, Istanbul became the venue for discussions between Iran and the E3, comprising the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, regarding Tehran's nuclear program, with the talks conducted at the deputy foreign minister level as a continuation of the fourth round of US-Iran negotiations previously mediated by Oman.
A senior Iranian official, as reported by Reuters, stated on May 15 that Iran has not yet received any new proposals from the United States to settle the ongoing nuclear dispute, while also emphasizing that Tehran had made it clear it would only agree to export its highly enriched uranium if US sanctions were lifted in a verifiable and effective manner.
Iran-US talks continue advancing
Since April 12, Tehran and Washington have engaged in four rounds of dialogue, the most significant contact on the nuclear issue since Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
These recent talks were initiated after Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, in March, calling for renewed discussions while simultaneously warning of potential military action if diplomacy did not succeed.
The tension surrounding Iran’s nuclear program has intensified since the US exit from the JCPOA, which had provided Tehran with sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear activities.
Iran remained in compliance for a year following the withdrawal but gradually began scaling back its commitments. Western governments have accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran firmly rejects. Iran has confirmed over and over again that the country’s nuclear program is strictly for peaceful, civilian purposes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Sunday that Iran remains firmly committed to its principled positions ahead of the fourth round of indirect Iran-US nuclear talks.
"Following my recent trip to the region and consultations with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, I am now heading to Oman. We had additional consultations this morning in Tehran, and we hope to reach a determining point in this round," he said.
"Unfortunately, we hear many contradictory statements from the other side. There are inconsistencies in both their interviews and the positions they adopt. Their stance during negotiations differs from what they express outside the talks, and this is one of the key problems in the negotiation process," Araghchi pointed out.
"In contrast to the other party," Araghchi added, "the Islamic Republic of Iran has well-known positions grounded in principles. We have moved along a straight path, and our positions are entirely clear."
On May 15, US President Donald Trump claimed that Washington was very close to striking a deal with Tehran, "We're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this... There [are] two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don't want to do it the second way." he said, according to a shared pool report by AFP.
