Iran demands US ‘guarantee’ it will lift sanctions in nuclear talks

TEHRAN — Iran pressed the United States on Monday for guarantees that it will drop sanctions as a condition for a nuclear deal, after the White House reportedly sent a proposal the US deemed “acceptable.”

With Iran and the United States engaged in talks over Tehran’s nuclear program since April, Washington’s proposal for a deal came after leaked UN reports said Iran had stepped up production of highly enriched uranium and carried out secretive nuclear activities.

Iran’s top diplomat and lead nuclear negotiator was due to meet the head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Cairo on Monday, a day after the report was leaked.

Iran has rejected the report, warning it would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions “exploit” the report.

The United States, Israel and Western countries have accused Iran — which vows to destroy Israel — of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting it needs uranium for civilian power production. However, Iran has been enriching uranium up to 60%, a level that has no civilian uses and is just below weapons grade.

It has also obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and has expanded its ballistic missile capabilities, while several officials have warned that it could pursue the bomb.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that he had received “elements” of a US proposal for a nuclear deal following five rounds of talks mediated by Oman.

On Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news conference in Tehran: “We want to guarantee that the sanctions are effectively lifted…

“So far, the American side has not wanted to clarify this issue,” he added.

His remarks come a day after a report by the UN agency showed Iran has stepped up production of uranium enriched up to 60 percent — close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons.

In the nuclear talks last month, the US envoy said that President Donald Trump’s administration would oppose any enrichment.

“An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That’s our red line. No enrichment,” Steve Witkoff told Breitbart News.

Iran has vowed to keep enriching uranium “with or without a deal” on its nuclear program.

The United States has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal that the White House called “acceptable” and in its “best interest” to accept, US media reported on Saturday.

The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges, said the proposal calls on Iran to stop all enrichment and suggests creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power.

Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

Times of Israel Staff contributed to the report