Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated on Thursday that Tehran has not closed the door on resolving its disputes with the United States and is open to indirect negotiations. This shift in tone comes despite Iran’s previous firm stance against U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum, which demanded a deal or military consequences.
Iran has long rejected Trump's warnings, with Khamenei labeling them deceptive and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisting that talks are impossible unless the U.S. alters its "maximum pressure" policy. However, Kharrazi's comments, made to the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, indicate that Iran is willing to explore indirect talks to evaluate the U.S. position, present its own conditions, and ultimately make a decision based on those discussions.
The backdrop of this development includes the fallout from Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, an agreement aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the U.S. withdrawal, Iran began exceeding the deal’s restrictions, particularly in its uranium enrichment program, leading to heightened concerns from Western powers about Tehran's potential to develop nuclear weapons.
While the U.S. insists that Iran's nuclear ambitions are geared toward weaponization, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian energy purposes.
As tensions continue to simmer, Iran is expected to respond to Trump's recent letter, weighing both the threats and potential opportunities presented by the U.S. in its response.
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