Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized American demands regarding Tehran's uranium enrichment as "excessive and outrageous," according to state media reports.
"I don't think nuclear talks with the US will bring results. I don't know what will happen," Khamenei stated. The Supreme Leader emphasized that Washington should avoid making what he described as unreasonable demands during the diplomatic process that has shown increasing signs of strain.
Anticipated discussions that might have constituted a fifth round of negotiations possibly scheduled for the weekend in Rome appear increasingly uncertain, Reuters reported. The diplomatic efforts have encountered substantial obstacles as Iranian and American representatives clash specifically over uranium enrichment policies.
Tehran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi expressed on Monday that diplomatic efforts would collapse if Washington continues insisting that Iran abandon domestic uranium enrichment – an activity that American officials contend could potentially lead to nuclear weapons development.
The Islamic Republic maintains that its nuclear energy program serves exclusively peaceful purposes.Earlier on Tuesday, another Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, indicated that Tehran had received and was currently examining a proposal from the United States. This development follows US President Donald Trump's warning last week that Tehran needed to "move quickly or something bad is going to happen."
The US president has issued multiple warnings that Iran would face bombing campaigns and severe sanctions if it failed to reach a compromise regarding its disputed nuclear program.
During his initial 2017-21 presidential term, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers that established strict limitations on Tehran's enrichment activities in exchange for international sanctions relief, as detailed by Reuters.
Trump, who characterized the 2015 agreement as disproportionately favorable to Iran, also reimplemented comprehensive US sanctions against the country. The Islamic Republic responded to these measures by intensifying its uranium enrichment activities.
