Iranian daily warns of possible pause in nuclear talks

“There’s a chance that there could be a nuclear deal that doesn’t have some of the shortcomings of the previous nuclear deal that could enable the lifting of sanctions progressively and so forth as confidence is built,” Petraeus said during a panel discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum 2025.

“And that could lead to them being a more constructive player in the region than they certainly have been for many decades.”

Asked whether Iran could be “brought back into the fold” like Syria, Petraeus responded: “That’s overly optimistic.”

He pointed to Iran’s role in supporting its allied forces in the region such as the Houthis in Yemen. “Assuming Iran then also stops some of the terrible activities that they’re doing through proxies in the region which have been so destabilizing, then you can start to see the contours of something that could be much more positive.”

Petraeus said there are signs of narrowing differences between Washington and Tehran, and a possible compromise could include restrictions on uranium enrichment for a limited period.

“Maybe that ends up being for three years and then you have an opportunity to do something small again. But you can actually see this deal starting to come together,” he said.

Amid indirect Iran-US talks, US President Donald Trump has insisted Iran must fully cease enrichment, leading Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to warn on Tuesday that talks look unlikely to progress under those conditions.

On Sunday, Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told ABC News: “We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability. Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment. We cannot have that.”

On the question of regime change, Petraeus dismissed it as unrealistic. “You have to deal with the world the way it is, not the way you would like it to be. And I never thought that regime change was at all realistic, frankly.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that uranium enrichment is not open to negotiation, following comments by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressing doubt over the outcome of ongoing indirect talks with the United States.

“We are witnessing completely unreasonable and illogical positions from the Americans,” Araghchi said. “The issue of enrichment is not negotiable at all,” he added.

Referring to Khamenei’s comments, he added: “Today, the Supreme Leader made the position completely clear.”

Iran said Tuesday that the timing and location of the next round of indirect talks with the United States have not been finalized.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said proposals had been made, including by Oman, but no agreement had been reached.

“As far as we are concerned, no final decision has been taken on this matter,” Baghaei said. “There have been proposals for time and place from the Omani Foreign Ministry, but as of this moment, nothing has been confirmed.”

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Iran’s rial plummeted on Tuesday after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said he did not expect ongoing indirect talks with the United States to succeed.

The rial fell sharply in Tehran’s unofficial market, dropping from around 820,000 to over 840,000 per US dollar shortly after Khamenei’s remarks, according to foreign exchange traders.

“We don’t think the current negotiations will lead to a result,” Khamenei said at a public event.

Similar declines have occurred in the past following negative signals from Khamenei regarding nuclear talks.

"Indirect negotiations took place (under Raisi) as well—just like now—but without results,” Khamenei said during a memorial ceremony for the late president and others killed in a helicopter crash last May. “We do not think it would yield results now either. We do not know what will happen.”

Turning to US calls for zero uranium enrichment, Khamenei said: “Since negotiations have come up, I want to give a warning to the opposing side. The American side that engages in these indirect talks and have discussions, should try not to spout nonsense.

"Saying things like 'we won’t allow Iran to enrich uranium' is way out of line. No one is waiting for anyone’s permission. The Islamic Republic has its own policy, its own approach, and it will continue to pursue it."

US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East on Sunday said Washington will not accept any level of uranium enrichment in a potential agreement with Tehran.

“We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability,” Steven Witkoff told ABC News. “Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment. We cannot have that.”

Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful and Khamenei said that he would explain "at a later date" why the issue of enrichment is such a key focus of the talks, leaving the issue open.

On Monday, the United Arab Emirates-based The National cited an Iranian official as saying that Iran had not accepted Oman's invitation for a fifth round of talks with the US due to take place in Rome.

The American officials' insistence on "zero enrichment" has left Iran uncertain about the usefulness of more talks, the report said.

"Iran does not want to have another round of talks and them to fail", the official was quoted as saying. "With zero enrichment, we don't have a deal."

Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to 60% U-235, a level that causes "serious concern," according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The IAEA has consistently maintained that there is no credible civilian use for uranium enriched to this level, which is a short technical step from weapons-grade 90% fissile material.

Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium had increased to 275 kg, enough to theoretically make about half a dozen weapons if Iran further enriches the uranium.

Earlier in the day before Khamenei's speech, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran has received a proposal for the next round of indirect negotiations with the United States.

“We have received a proposal about the next round of negotiations with the US, and it is under review,” Gharibabadi told state media without providing further details.