Anti-talk profiteers shouldn't hold 85 million people hostage, MP says

The divide among Iran's ultraconservatives began at least a month before the latest round of Iran-US talks, but it has since escalated into an open rift, with most hardliners now backing away from their earlier opposition to negotiations.

Explore the full story behind Iran's conservative divide here.

Iran’s Javan newspaper, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, said Tehran could reach a limited nuclear agreement with the United States without compromising its revolutionary ideals or anti-imperialist stance.

“Maybe Iran does not want the image of a 'fighter against imperialism' that has formed in the world’s mind over the past half-century to be erased — but who says that if the agreement is limited to lifting sanctions in exchange for reducing enrichment, that image will be erased?” the editorial said.

Javan also dismissed the idea that any negotiations with the US inevitably lead to normalization or surrender, calling such views exaggerated. It said a partial agreement was plausible, even if some aspects of it remained undisclosed.

Recent comments by US envoy Steve Witkoff suggest that Washington's goals in the ongoing talks with Iran go somewhat beyond those of the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama—but without representing a radical departure.

Unpack the full analysis here.

The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to comment on whether Russia would be willing to take Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential future nuclear deal with the United States, according to Reuters.

The Guardian reported earlier that Tehran is expected to reject a US proposal to transfer its uranium stockpile to a third country, such as Russia, under a plan aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme.

Russia was a signatory to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

Iran's Supreme Leader has expressed a mix of cautious optimism and profound skepticism regarding the ongoing talks with the United States, dismissing the talks as only one of Foreign Ministry’s dozens of tasks.

"We are neither extremely optimistic nor extremely pessimistic about these talks," he said, adding however that “we are very pessimistic about the other side, but we are optimistic about our own capabilities."

Khamenei added, "Ultimately, it is a task and a move that has been decided upon, and the initial steps have been implemented well.”

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