A nuclear Iran is existential threat to America, hawkish senator says

Iranian officials have indicated that, as part of any renewed agreement, they are seeking the rapid removal of US nuclear-related sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

They are also pushing for the release of billions of dollars currently frozen in foreign accounts and want the United States to stop pressuring Chinese companies that purchase Iranian oil, the report added citing Iranian and Arab sources.

In return, the report said, Iranian representatives have conveyed to European interlocutors that Tehran would be willing to scale its nuclear enrichment back to the levels permitted under the 2015 agreement, which the US exited during Donald Trump’s first presidential term.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to restrict its uranium enrichment to no more than 3.67% U-235, far below the roughly 90% needed for weapons-grade material.

A draft text presented by Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Iran’s delegation in Oman makes no mention of “dismantling Iran’s nuclear program” or any threat of “military action” against Iran, Ali Khamenei’s representative Hossein Shariatmadari said Saturday citing an informed source.

"It only emphasizes ensuring the non-weaponization of Iran’s nuclear activities,” said the editor-in-chief of the hardline Kayhan daily.

The Sunday edition of the daily features Shariatmadari's article under the front-page headline: “The prospect of a deal with Trump is unclear; don’t keep the country waiting.”

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday expressed hope that the talks between Tehran and Washington "will lead to positive outcomes in the near future, contributing to the reduction of tensions and the building of trust between the two sides, in a way that serves the interests of the region’s peoples and strengthens security and peace."

The ministry said Baghdad "values the positive signs that resulted from the first round of dialogue between the two sides."

"The ministry reaffirms Iraq’s consistent position in support of diplomacy and negotiated solutions, considering them the best means to resolve disputes and enhance stability at both the regional and international levels."

"Trump must realize that he can no longer play American football with Iran. Football requires little planning or prudence—just brute force and hit-and-run tactics. But Iranians are masters of chess, a game where a single move can take hours of thought," said Iran's former foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki on state TV.

"From now on, Americans must understand that their words will be taken as a reflection of their true intentions."

The Qatari government on Saturday welcomed the talks held between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Muscat, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, according to a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry.

"It also praised the positive spirit that prevailed during the talks, as well as the statements made by both parties, in addition to the constructive role played by Oman in this context."

The Foreign Ministry affirmed Doha's "full support for the approach of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between the US and Iran, in line with its firm belief in the importance of promoting security, peace, and enhancing stability and development at both the regional and international levels."