Iran has made it clear in ongoing negotiations with the US that no agreement will be possible without the recovery of frozen assets, while Tehran has declared only verbal assurances or vague promises unacceptable.
According to reports by Iranian news agencies, Iranian officials say that the US is constantly changing its position and creating obstacles in the negotiation process. Tehran has made it clear that it will not compromise on its basic conditions and national interests.
The reports state that the release of the first tranche of Iran’s frozen assets has been made a mandatory condition in the initial phase, while detailed negotiations on the procedure for returning the remaining assets will be held later. According to Iranian officials, the differences regarding the recovery of assets have so far remained the biggest obstacle to a final agreement.
According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Iran has not yet accepted any new measures related to its nuclear programme. The proposed framework for talks on nuclear issues would set a 60-day deadline, while a 30-day deadline could be set for steps related to the Strait of Hormuz.
The possible memorandum of understanding also includes that Israel must end the ongoing war in Lebanon, while the US would lift or suspend oil sanctions on Iran. According to reports, Iran has also stressed that if an agreement is reached, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not completely return to the pre-war state.
The proposed draft also includes a condition that the US will not attack Iran again, while in return, Iran can assure it will not take action against the US and its allies.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has said that talks with Iran are progressing in an orderly and constructive manner and the two countries are getting closer to a possible agreement. In his statement, he said that there is no room for error and Iran must understand that it cannot build or acquire nuclear weapons.
Trump thanked the Middle Eastern countries for their support and said that cooperation in the region could be further strengthened if more countries join the historic Abraham Accords. He also said that perhaps Iran would also become part of this process in the future.
The US president added that his administration is not in favour of any haste and that negotiations are being carried out cautiously. According to him, until a final agreement is reached, the blockade imposed on Iran will remain in full force.
Trump criticised former US President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, saying that it was one of the worst agreements the US had made, which brought Iran closer to acquiring nuclear capability.
According to analysts, despite progress in the current negotiations, a lack of trust between the two countries persists, while issues such as frozen assets, the lifting of sanctions, and the nuclear programme are crucial to the success of any future agreement.
We welcome your contributions to The Pakistan Observer, Submit your blogs, articles, press releases, news story pitches and news features.
Please send your submissions to our News Room or Editorial team.
