Monitoring gaps complicate path for new Iran nuclear deal - Reuters

Iran plans to expand its nuclear power capacity over the next 18 years with the construction of two additional units at the Bushehr nuclear plant, its manager said on Tuesday.

Reza Banazadeh, head of the Bushehr facility, said the second unit will take 10 years to complete and the third around eight years. Once finished, the three units will generate a combined 3,100 megawatts of electricity.

Currently, 2,000 Iranian specialists operate the Bushehr plant, which he described as a showcase of domestic capability. “All critical roles, from control rooms to maintenance, are handled by Iranian experts,” he said.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokeswoman for the Iranian government, told reporters in Tehran that Washington’s “contradictory statements” were complicating the process and undermining trust.

“We are prepared for every scenario, but we will not leave the negotiating table,” Mohajerani said.

Reported offer diverges from US public line

A key source of friction is a draft proposal delivered to Iran on Saturday by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating between Tehran and Washington.

The document outlines a possible framework under which Iran could maintain limited low-level uranium enrichment on its soil, according to Axios and other US media outlets.

This reported flexibility contrasts with public remarks from senior US officials, including White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have repeatedly said Washington would not permit any uranium enrichment and would demand full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The proposal also includes limits on future enrichment, the dismantling of certain facilities, and phased sanctions relief tied to compliance verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Tehran says proposal lacks guarantees

Iranian officials have responded skeptically. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the proposal lacked credible assurances on sanctions relief — a central Iranian demand.

A senior Iranian diplomat told Reuters the offer was a “non-starter,” citing inconsistencies between the US public position and what was conveyed in the draft.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, speaking during a visit to Cairo, confirmed that Tehran is still drafting its formal response.

Iran seen preparing negative response - Reuters

According to Reuters, a senior Iranian diplomat said Tehran is drafting a negative response to the US proposal, which could amount to a rejection. The unnamed diplomat cited by Reuters described the offer as failing to address Iran’s key demands, including recognition of its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Sources close to Iran’s negotiating team also criticized what they view as Washington’s shifting stance, which they say has created uncertainty about US intentions and credibility, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

CNN on Monday also reported that the next round of nuclear talks is “very uncertain and may not happen at all,” citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

A senior Iranian official told the network the US proposal was “incoherent and disjointed” and conflicted with the understandings reached during the fifth round in Rome. The official added that “the fact that the Americans constantly change their positions” has become a major obstacle to progress.

US officials reject claim of bad faith

Israel Hayom reported on Monday that American officials expected Tehran to accept some elements and object to others.

The outlet, citing unnamed US sources, said that the administration believes Iran’s response will be more measured and that further talks remain possible. A US official quoted in the outlet said negotiators could begin by addressing areas where the gaps are narrower.

The official also said that negotiations would not continue indefinitely and that all options remain under consideration.

Trump publicly contradicts reported offer

President Donald Trump added to the confusion on Monday when he wrote on Truth Social: “Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!”

The statement directly contradicts media accounts of the proposal delivered to Tehran, which permits limited enrichment under strict international oversight — a provision aimed at accommodating Iran’s long-standing demand for civilian nuclear rights.

The gap between Trump’s public stance and the reported content of the offer has become a central point of contention for Iranian officials, who accuse Washington of negotiating in bad faith.

US senator demands transparency over reported ‘side deal’

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday warned that the Trump administration may be pursuing a side arrangement with Iran outside the scope of congressional oversight.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer cited the Axios report and urged the administration to clarify whether informal commitments have been made. He said the alleged deal, if true, contradicts earlier statements by Rubio and Witkoff and risks undermining accountability.

Schumer also said any future agreement must address not only nuclear safeguards but also Iran’s support for regional militant groups.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday sharply criticized the Trump administration over reports of a potential undisclosed agreement with Iran, warning it could undermine congressional oversight.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer called on the administration to “come clean immediately” following an Axios report alleging that President Donald Trump’s team is pursuing a so-called side deal with Tehran that could allow limited enrichment inside Iran.

“If true, this is terribly troubling,” Schumer said. “What is in this so-called side deal? The American people deserve transparency.”

Despite public statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff that Washington would demand the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the reported deal suggests otherwise, Schumer said.

“This administration must clarify what they might be hiding,” he added, accusing officials of adopting a “trust, but not verify” approach that Republicans once denounced under the Obama-era 2015 nuclear agreement.

Schumer said any future agreement with Iran must not only address nuclear issues but also Tehran’s support for regional militant groups. “Any negotiation with Iran should openly and transparently use all of our leverage and address non-nuclear issues, like their support for terrorism and regional proxies.”

“Iran’s position on enrichment is firm and steadfast,” CNN reported Monday, citing a senior Iranian official who described the latest US proposal as “incoherent and disjointed, very unrealistic, and with excessive demands.”

“The fact that the Americans constantly change their positions has so far been the main obstacle to the success of the talks and now makes the work more difficult than ever,” the official said, according to CNN.

“The text is clearly in conflict with the latest agreement reached during the fifth round of negotiations,” the senior Iranian official added.

The fifth round of talks concluded in Rome on May 23, with a US official saying the two sides had “agreed to meet again in the near future.” However, CNN reported that “the next round of talks is very uncertain and may not happen at all,” citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

The spokesperson for Iran’s government said on Tuesday that contradictory positions from the United States are complicating efforts to reach a breakthrough in nuclear negotiations.

“We are prepared for every scenario, but we will not leave the negotiating table,” said Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government’s spokeswoman, during a weekly press conference.

Reaffirming Iran’s willingness to engage, Mohajerani added, “We are committed to dialogue and have maintained consistent positions. It is the contradictory statements from the American side that have made progress difficult.”