Despite hints that a deal between the United States and Iran may be near, officials from both countries continue to issue conflicting statements, suggesting the diplomatic impasse continues.
At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said Iran would not receive any sanctions relief as a result of the negotiations, despite Iran’s other demands.
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“We’re not talking about sanctions relief or funding,” Trump said.
Earlier in the day, in an interview with PBS News, the US president also reiterated his claim that Iran would hand over its enriched uranium reserves.
“They’re going to give up highly enriched uranium, not for sanctions relief. No, not at all,” Trump told PBS News.
These comments followed similar statements by President Trump on Monday, in which he said enriched uranium would be “immediately delivered to the United States and brought back to be destroyed, or preferably destroyed on the spot in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
But the Iranian government has said it has no intention of giving up its estimated 440 kg of nuclear material.
More than a month ago, President Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to allow the United States to recover uranium at a “slow pace,” a statement quickly denied by Tehran.
Differences over the future of Iran’s nuclear program remain one of many turning points in ceasefire talks as the United States and Iran seek to end the war that began more than 12 weeks ago.
The two countries have also clashed over issues including continued U.S. sanctions against Iran, the U.S. blockade of Tehran port, and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a major trade artery.
Diplomacy at an impasse
At the Cabinet meeting, President Trump reiterated several statements he has made since the start of the war. These include claims that Iran’s navy and air force have disappeared. He also sought to recast Iran as a corrupt enemy subdued by American military power.
President Trump said of Iran: “They are very keen to get a deal.” However, he added that the current negotiations have fallen short of expectations.
“We’re not happy with it, but we’ll be happy with it. We’ll be happy with it. Either that or we’ll just get the job done,” Trump said, hinting at further military action.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28 without direct provocation, killing the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, several government officials, and hundreds of civilians.
Iran responded by carrying out missile and drone attacks against Israel and the entire region. It also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which more than 20% of global oil trade passes.
Lockdowns have caused energy prices to soar around the world and inflation to accelerate in the United States. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been unable to forcefully reopen waterways.
But on Wednesday, President Trump stressed that Iran cannot “stand by” and expect him to withdraw. He called the blockade a tactic to undermine domestic support ahead of the country’s crucial midterm elections.
President Trump said, “I don’t care about the midterm elections.” “People understand that. They know, quite simply, that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.”
President Trump also ruled out a short-term deal that would allow Iran and Oman to jointly control the strait, even suggesting a military response if Oman were to do so.
“Oman will behave like other countries, or we’ll have to blow it up. They understand that. They’ll be fine,” Trump said.
Although President Trump has cited the deaths of Ayatollah Khamenei and other Iranian leaders as evidence of leadership change, the war has not led to the collapse of Iran’s governing system.
Although Khamenei was replaced by his son Mojtaba, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) continues to play an important role in Iran’s political and military system.
A temporary ceasefire went into effect on April 8, but efforts to resolve the crisis have stalled despite President Trump’s insistence that Iran is weakened and desperate for a deal with the United States.
But there was renewed optimism about a possible deal after President Trump announced on Saturday that a deal was on the way after meeting with regional leaders.
It remains unclear whether either party offered concessions to secure an agreement.
For example, President Trump told a Cabinet meeting that he was “not comfortable” with the possibility that Iranian uranium would be transferred to Russia or China rather than the United States.
US claims Iran report is ‘fabricated’
The White House earlier Wednesday dismissed reports on Iranian state television about details of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war.
According to Iranian reports, the draft agreement calls for the US to lift its naval blockade against Iran in exchange for allowing ships to pass through the port of Hormuz at pre-war levels within 30 days.
According to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), warships will not be included in the deal and management of the waterway, including ship inspections and possibly fees, will remain under Iranian control in coordination with Oman.
But the White House quickly poured cold water on Iran’s claims.
In a social media post, the Trump administration said: “This report from Iranian-controlled media is not true and the memorandum they ‘released’ is a complete fabrication. No one should believe what Iranian state-controlled media is publishing. Facts matter.”
The White House did not say what was inaccurate in the report or provide details about a possible deal with Iran.
President Trump said Wednesday that the United States will not accept Iranian control of Hormuz. “We will monitor it, but no one is going to control it. That is also part of our negotiations,” he told reporters at a Cabinet meeting.
Initially, some U.S.-Iranian reports suggested the U.S. would release frozen Iranian assets as part of the deal, but President Trump stressed on Wednesday that the U.S. would not provide immediate sanctions relief to Tehran.
“If they are behaving properly and doing the right thing, we will let them have the money,” he said.
