Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced that his Omani counterpart delivered elements of a United States proposal for a nuclear agreement between Tehran and Washington during a brief visit to Tehran on Saturday. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi stated that Iran would respond to the US proposal “in accordance with its principles, national interests, and the rights of the Iranian people.”
The announcement comes as anticipation builds for a potential sixth round of talks between the United States and Iran aimed at resolving the longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. Details regarding the date and venue for the talks have not yet been disclosed.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the US position, noting that former President Trump had made it clear to Iran that it must never obtain a nuclear bomb, though she declined to provide further specifics.
On May 30th, Trump stated that a new Iran deal could be reached in the “not too distant future.” This development coincides with a recent report from the UN nuclear watchdog, which revealed that Iran has increased its production of enriched uranium—a crucial component in nuclear weapons production. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report disclosed that Iran currently possesses over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, edging close to the 90% purity required for weapons-grade uranium.
Experts warn that the current stockpile is sufficient to produce up to 10 nuclear weapons if further refined, making Iran the only non-nuclear state producing uranium at such levels. Earlier this week, Trump told reporters that he had recently cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against actions that could disrupt ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran.
These comments appear to signal US concerns that Israel might take military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities while diplomatic efforts are still underway. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Oman, have been ongoing since April, marked by both breakthroughs and setbacks. US officials have insisted that Iran cease its nuclear enrichment activities—a demand Iran has so far rejected.
Amid ongoing talks, Trump has reiterated warnings that the US could resort to military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails. Despite the negotiations, the latest IAEA report found no indication that Iran has slowed its enrichment activities. Tehran continues to deny seeking nuclear weapons, despite exceeding the limits set by the 2015 nuclear agreement designed to prevent the development of an atomic bomb.