Iran sees nuclear agreement with US as unlikely - CNN

US-Iran talks appear unlikely to lead to an agreement, with the United States insisting that Tehran dismantle its uranium enrichment program, CNN cited two Iranian sources as saying.

Iran’s participation in the fifth round of talks in Rome on Friday is solely to gauge Washington’s latest stance rather than pursue a potential breakthrough, the sources added.

“The media statements and negotiating behavior of the United States has widely disappointed policy-making circles in Tehran,” CNN quoted the two Iranian sources as saying in a joint message.

“From the perspective of decision-makers in Tehran, when the US knows that accepting zero enrichment in Iran is impossible and yet insists on it, it is a sign that the US is fundamentally not seeking an agreement and is using the negotiations as a tool to intensify pressure.”

They added that while some Iranian officials initially hoped for a “win-win” compromise, a consensus has since formed that the Trump administration is pushing the talks toward deadlock. With the current US position, the sources said, the negotiations are becoming unproductive and may not continue much longer.

The sources said Tehran no longer takes seriously US efforts to distance itself from Israel’s position and believes the American proposals follow the agenda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has demanded that Iran be barred from all uranium enrichment.

They suggested that Tehran will likely take a tougher stance unless the US offers tangible concessions.