The Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Washington’s approval to negotiate with Iran on a new nuclear agreement. According to the report, bin Salman convinced President Donald Trump that such an initiative is necessary for regional stability.
The mission follows the unsuccessful attempt by Massimo Aparo, chief inspector under IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, to persuade Iran to restore monitoring following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, according to three diplomats cited by Bloomberg.
The foreign minister of the Islamic Republic told the Financial Times that his country would not agree to return to "business as usual" with Washington untll the US guarantees not to carry out similar attacks, in addition to compensating Iran for the damages.
The Trump administration is discussing a proposal to assist Iran with a sum of up to $30 billion for building a civilian nuclear energy program, sanctions relief, and release of billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds – all as part of a mounting effort to return Tehran to the negotiating table.
"I don't know," Trump tells interviewer regarding whether Tehran would agree to terminate its nuclear operations, staying mum on consequences of failure to compromise and accusing Tehran of "delaying."
Tehran is expected to submit a counterproposal by tomorrow, in what could mark a decisive moment in ongoing negotiations. Iran currently possesses enough enriched uranium to produce 10 nuclear bombs and is generating sufficient material for an additional bomb each month.
“National independence means that the Iranian nation stands on its own feet," the supreme leader said in speech commemorating the founder of the republic, adding that "a nuclear program without enrichment is useless."
An official from an Arab state revealed that the Americans are proposing to transfer uranium enrichment to a facility that would be built on an island in the Gulf, though it's doubtful Tehran will agree.
Officials believe Iran will reject parts of the proposal and agree to others. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi directed a threat toward Israel, warning it would “regret it” if it attempted to attack Iran. Meanwhile, an Iranian lawmaker issued a threat against the United States, stating that 50,000 American troops are within direct range of Iranian weapons.
According to documents obtained by Axios, the US proposal includes “preliminary ideas” for discussion in the next round of talks. Iran would be required to halt all new research and development on centrifuges, and the agreement would focus on establishing a regional enrichment consortium.