Pompeo says deal Iran must cover nuclear file, missiles and Mideast allies
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said any future deal with Iran must ensure the complete elimination of its nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and support for its allied groups in the region.
"Any deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran must not only verifiably eliminate every element of its nuclear program, but must also crush its ballistic missile capability and its support of terror proxies around the world," Pompeo wrote on X.
He criticized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, saying it failed to address these critical security concerns. "No reason to be weaker than the Obama-Kerry capitulation to the cheating terrorist Supreme Leader," Pompeo added.
Iran favors negotiations that are “precise and calm,” its government spokesperson said, emphasizing Tehran’s preference for a structured, behind-the-scenes approach to diplomacy.
“The preferred negotiation for Iran is detailed and without fanfare. Every message should be written, clear, and free of theatrics,” Fatemeh Mohajerani wrote on X.
She added that Iran sets its own terms for talks — a sign, she said, of “diplomatic rationality” that also helps prevent opponents from spreading misinformation.
Two senior Iranian political figures warned that internal disunity and vested domestic interests could undermine negotiations with the United States, as officials from both sides resume contacts in Oman.
The talks should be treated as a national decision rather than a partisan initiative, said the former Deputy Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Ali Motahari.
“These talks are a decision by the entire system and must not be portrayed as imposed by one faction,” said Motahari, a conservative politician known for outspoken views, in an interview with Rouydad24 on Saturday.
Motahari pointed to the 2015 nuclear agreement as an example of what could be achieved through engagement but also how easily it could unravel.
Former Iranian lawmaker Ali Motahari
“In the two years the JCPOA was implemented, we saw single-digit inflation and higher economic growth,” he said. “Let’s not allow partisan competition sabotage this round.”
The outcome of this round would signal whether “the negotiations are on a constructive track and whether the other side seeks a fair resolution or talks from a position of dominance,” he said.
From the Reformist camp, a former official also called for sidelining powerful domestic actors who benefit from Iran’s continued isolation.
Reformist figure Mohammad Hashemi
“To advance negotiations and end sanctions, the government must disarm the so-called sanctions profiteers,” said Mohammad Hashemi, the brother of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in an interview with Khabar Online website.
Hashemi warned that these groups, though few in number, wield significant influence and have actively worked to destabilize the new government.
“Their power lies in chaos. Without confronting them, real progress is impossible,” he added.
He also offered a cautious assessment of US President Donald Trump.
“Trump has no credible track record. He tore up the nuclear deal and ordered the killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani,” Hashemi said.
“But he’s also a businessman, not a warmonger. He prefers deals over war.”
Indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff have begun, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on X.
“The indirect talks between Dr. Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Steve Witkoff, the US President’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, have started with the mediation of Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi,” Baghaei wrote.
“The talks are being held at a venue designated by the Omani host, with Iranian and American representatives placed in separate halls, and both sides are conveying their views and positions through Oman’s foreign minister,” he added.
Two senior Iranian political figures warned that internal disunity and vested domestic interests could undermine negotiations with the United States, as officials from both sides resume contacts in Oman.
Iran’s path to lifting sanctions and reviving talks with the United States depends on sidelining domestic actors who profit from the country’s isolation, Reformist political figure Mohammad Hashemi said.
“To advance negotiations and end sanctions, the government must disarm the so-called sanctions profiteers,” Hashemi told Khabar Online website on Saturday.
“Their power lies in chaos. Without confronting them, real progress is impossible.”
The brother of Iran’s late President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani described these groups as few in number but “highly operational” with deep-rooted backing.
He also weighed in on the prospect of renewed talks with Washington, saying, “Trump has no credible track record. He tore up the nuclear deal and ordered military strike on IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. But he’s also a businessman, not a warmonger. He prefers deals over war.”
Hashemi framed the diplomatic window as narrow but real, and argued that Iran’s negotiators must navigate both internal resistance and external unpredictability.
“The opportunity exists—but only if those who benefit from sanctions are stripped of the tools that allow them to sabotage diplomacy,” he added.
