US senator warns Trump may be bypassing Congress on Iran

“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.”

A former spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry has criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the UN nuclear watchdog of becoming a tool for Western powers following its latest report on Iran's nuclear program.

Ramin Mehmanparast told state-affiliated ISNA news agency that the IAEA’s recent report targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities was politicized.

"The IAEA has unfortunately become a plaything of Western countries, and its positions on Iran are no longer technical but political," Mehmanparast said. He added that the agency’s stance aligns with efforts by the European Union to reassert influence in nuclear negotiations, especially after being sidelined by Iran–US talks.

The former diplomat said the 2015 nuclear deal, or JCPOA, was seen as a major diplomatic achievement for Europe. But with Washington and Tehran now pursuing indirect negotiations without EU mediation, European powers—particularly the E3 (France, Germany, UK)—feel marginalized and are exerting pressure to remain relevant.

Mehmanparast further alleged that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s actions may be politically motivated, potentially aimed at future career ambitions.

He warned that such pressures—whether through IAEA reports or Western diplomatic maneuvers—risk derailing nuclear talks. "If these politically motivated actions continue and obstacles are placed in the way of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, the talks will be negatively affected," he said.

The registry, one of the world’s largest with over 8,500 vessels, has come under renewed pressure from the US and watchdog groups over its role in what they describe as enabling illicit oil shipments from Iran. Ships removed from the Panamanian registry can no longer operate under the country’s flag.

The move follows criticism from US-based United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which accused Panama of being the "flag of choice" for Iranian oil trade in violation of US sanctions.

UANI says nearly 17% of vessels suspected of transporting Iranian crude sail under Panama's flag, using tactics such as flag-hopping, false ownership documentation, and disabling tracking systems.

“This is not just a failure of Panama's registry. It’s a direct threat to global sanctions compliance and regional and US security,” UANI said in a statement last month.

Panama has defended its enforcement record, citing Executive Decree No. 512, which empowers authorities to deregister ships linked to sanctioned entities. In March, 107 vessels were removed, with 18 more under review.

The Maritime Authority said it has reinforced controls on ship-to-ship operations and is collaborating closely with the United States to prevent sanctions evasion.

In 2019, Panama signed an agreement with Liberia and the Marshall Islands to exchange data on suspect vessels.

The measures come as Iran expands its oil exports, despite sanctions. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad recently announced a production boost of 150,000 barrels per day, with plans to increase daily oil and gas output further through $10 billion in new energy projects.

While Tehran has not addressed the UANI report directly, it has consistently rejected US sanctions as illegitimate and maintains that its exports are legal under international law.

In recent months, the US has stepped up enforcement efforts, seizing Iranian tankers in the Persian Gulf. Some vessels were found using forged Iraqi documents, according to Iraqi officials.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) voiced concern over developments in Iran’s nuclear program and called for expedited progress in reaching constructive agreements to safeguard security in the region.

In a statement issued following its 164th ministerial session in Kuwait City on Monday, the energy-rich Arab states astride the Persian Gulf urged full Iranian compliance with uranium enrichment limits for peaceful purposes and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The council stressed that any future regional or international negotiations on Iran’s nuclear file must include GCC participation and address broader security concerns, such as ballistic missiles, drones, maritime safety, and protection of oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

"These negotiations should address not only the Iranian nuclear programme but also all security concerns of the member states, including ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, the safety of international navigation, and oil facilities."

The GCC also welcomed the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, expressing appreciation for Oman’s role in hosting and facilitating the dialogue.