Iran threatens to restrict IAEA access if board takes any action

The United States' negotiation position in the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran risks overlooking key threats, including Tehran’s ballistic missile program, drone warfare, and support for regional proxies, said Eric Mandel, the founder and Director of the Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN).

"What's maybe even more worrying is that ballistic missiles are not discussed or are part of this, drones, the abandonment of Iranian people, and proxies," he told Iran International.

Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday Iran has received a US nuclear deal proposal that contains many ambiguities.

Speaking in Beirut after unveiling his "Power of Negotiation" book, Abbas Araghchi said a response will be given in the coming days in line with Iran’s interests.

“Preventing us from enriching uranium in Iran is a red line — and this is a reality recognized by all countries," he said. "We won't ask for anyone's permission for continued enrichment."

Araghchi said it is perfectly clear that negotiations under the current circumstances are not from an equal position and resemble a negotiation of surrender.

He also dismissed the US threats to use the military option against Iran, saying, “If the United States was truly capable of bombing our nuclear facilities, it wouldn’t have seen a need to enter negotiations."

“Zero enrichment is the code name for the consortium,” the IRGC-linked daily Javan wrote on Monday, referring to a plan that would effectively eliminate Iran’s domestic refinement of uranium.

The details of Washington’s proposal have not been officially revealed, but Javan asserted in its editorial that the draft calls for Iran to halt enrichment entirely.

Another conservative outlet, Khorasan, front-paged the story with the headline Suspicious Proposal.

“Based on available evidence, it is highly unlikely that the proposal delivered by Oman’s foreign minister will address Iran’s key demands,” wrote the daily, which is aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office.

Khorasan questioned why US negotiator Steve Witkoff sent the proposal through a mediator rather than delivering it directly to his Iranian counterpart during the upcoming round of Tehran-Washington negotiations.

A consortium would pose a threat to the security of Iran’s nuclear program, the paper argued, asserting that another round of talks would only take place if Iran accepts the proposal.

As of Monday evening in Tehran, the only official response to the proposal came from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said during a visit to Cairo that the proposal is unfair.

The hardline publication Kayhan, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Khamenei, also lambasted the idea.

“There is no sign of goodwill in the United States’ proposal. Its sole aim is to weaken and dismantle Iran’s peaceful nuclear program,” the daily wrote in a Monday editorial, stopping short of ruling out a compromise.

“Any retreat without guarantees will only invite further pressure,” it warned.

Major reformist outlet Etemad echoed the sentiment, differing only slightly in tone.

“Even if Iran accepts the proposal, there is no guarantee that the United States will uphold its commitments,” the daily quoted foreign policy scholar Mohsen Jalilvand.

Jalilvand pointed to a push by European powers to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism of UN sanctions suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal, asserting that the United States would welcome the added pressure on Tehran.

Meanwhile, Morteza Maki, an expert on European affairs, stated that developments in Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom point to a coordinated effort to activate the trigger mechanism, which would reinstate all previous sanctions on Iran.

Despite mounting pressure—including threats from Israel—Maki said Tehran and Washington may still be able to strike an agreement.

An Iranian lawmaker said ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States are beneficial even if they fail to produce an agreement, and dismissed the possibility of a full-scale war in the absence of a deal.

“People should rest assured that even if no agreement is reached, we are not facing a full-blown war,” said Rouhollah Lak Aliabadi in comments to Didban Iran.

Aliabadi said Iran is always prepared for difficult scenarios, but remains open to a diplomatic settlement if a satisfactory one emerges.

He added that the nuclear talks are guided by Iran’s Supreme Leader, and that lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi operates strictly within the parameters set by Ali Khamenei.

“The strategy and red lines of the Islamic Republic are set by the leader,” he said. “Araghchi has never crossed those red lines and negotiates based on clear instructions.”

UN nuclear inspectors have lost visibility over critical parts of Iran’s atomic program, raising concerns over Tehran’s uranium enrichment as negotiations with the US stall, Reuters reported.

Last year, IAEA inspectors witnessed trucks delivering advanced IR-6 centrifuges to Iran’s Fordow facility, south of Tehran, but had no knowledge of their origin, an official familiar with the monitoring was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The IAEA no longer knows how many centrifuges Iran has or where parts are manufactured and stored. It has also lost access to key surveillance footage and can no longer conduct snap inspections at undeclared sites.

The latest confidential IAEA report says Iran is enriching uranium up to 60% purity — near weapons grade — and holds enough material for nine bombs if further enriched. No other nation has reached this level without building nuclear weapons, the watchdog said.

Despite withdrawing from enhanced oversight, Iran continues to allow regular IAEA inspections under its obligations as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Still, the IAEA says it cannot currently verify the program’s peaceful nature.