Iran says US contradictions hindering nuclear talks

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.

Iranian hardline daily Javan has called on the country’s negotiators to adhere strictly to the ideological and moral principles of the Islamic Revolution during nuclear talks, arguing that success lies not in outcomes but in fidelity to core values.

In an editorial addressing public concerns over perceived US pressure, Javan wrote: “Remain committed to your principles, and every experience will be a successful one.”

The piece cited the founder of Islamic Republic Rouhollah Khomeini’s principles, and criticized blind persistence in diplomatic mistakes, warning that insistence on errors is “satanic.”

“According to Imam [Khomeini]'s principles, if we made a mistake in past negotiations or have taken a wrong path during the current talks, we should not persist in it to the end,” Javan said without elaborating.

The article also said that while US negotiators are unwavering in their pursuit of material interests, Iranian representatives are heirs to a spiritual legacy rooted in the religious scripture such as Qur’an and Nahj al-Balagha.

Iran’s armed forces are at peak readiness and capable of responding swiftly to any threat, the commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces said on Tuesday.

Speaking during a visit to a missile unit in central Iran, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari said missile forces were actively deployed and fully prepared to defend the country.

“We have five missile bases in the Ground Forces structure and are fully prepared for any threats, operating under the command of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader.