 "The positive is that both Iran and the US are likely on the same page with regards to the endgame in these negotiations. Representational Image: File")
A top adviser to the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that the country is willing to sign a nuclear deal with the United States if US President Donald Trump agrees to lift economic sanctions on the West Asian nation. Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Khamenei, spoke to NBC News about the ongoing discussions.
During the interview, Shamkhani said that Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and would also get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, which can be weaponised if the US lifted all economic sanctions on Tehran immediately. He assured that if such an agreement is established, the West Asian nation would only enrich uranium to lower levels needed for civilian use. Shamkhani said that if the sanctions are lifted, the country will also allow international spectators to supervise the process.
Pressed further, if Iran would agree to sign an agreement today if those conditions were met, Shamkhani simply said, “Yes.” The remarks from the Iranian official are being seen as one of the clearest expressions of the country’s expectations from the ongoing talks with the US officials.
“It’s still possible. If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations,” Shamkhani told NBC News, adding, “it can lead to a better situation in the near future.”
Iran frustrated with ‘Trump’s tone and threats’
The remarks from the Iranian top official came just hours after Trump offered Iran “an olive branch," which was combined with threats . The American leader said that Tehran will be facing crippling economic sanctions should Iran not accept an agreement to limit the country’s nuclear program.
While speaking to NBC News, Shamkhani expressed frustration at Trump’s tone and continued threats. “He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It’s all barbed wire,” he said. Trump has repeatedly maintained that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Iran has denied that its nuclear program involves the development of weapons. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency , the United Nations watchdog, said that the West Asian nation has enriched enough uranium close to weapons-grade quality to make at least six nuclear bombs.
Impact Shorts
View AllIn light of this, the US and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran’s nuclear program for weeks, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, describing the last round in Muscat, the capital of Oman, as “encouraging.” Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the negotiations “difficult but useful”.
“Enrichment is an issue that Iran will not give up, and there is no room for compromise on it,” he said. “However, its dimensions, levels or amounts might change for a period to allow confidence-building.”
Concerns about Israel
In the Wednesday interview with NBC News, Shamkhani expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, often known by the nickname Bibi, could try to derail the process through backchannel lobbying in Washington. “If the Americans remove the Bibi effect, they can easily sign the deal,” Shamkhani said.
Similar concerns were also raised by Seyed Emamian, Assistant Professor at Tehran Polytechnic University of Technology, and Co-founder of Governance and Policy Think Tank, in his conversation with Firstpost’s Bhagyasree Sengupta.
However, Prof. Emamian also noted that things are different this time in regard to the US-Israel ties. The Iranian professor went on to state that Trump is now very much “concerned about Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intervention in Trump’s policy.”
“Trump invited Netanyahu to the White House, and in front of him, Trump publicly announced to everyone his plan for something that had already been agreed between the Iranians and the US delegation to meet in Muscat. Trump wanted to say directly to Netanyahu that it’s my policy, and that you should keep your distance from it. You are not going to be a negative player in that negotiation,” The Iranian professor told Firstpost.
“I think it’s too early. We are not going to be too rushed to be optimistic, but more realistic. But as I said before, there are hopes and concerns,” he added. Earlier this month, NBC News reported that two US officials and two Middle Eastern diplomats believe that Trump is trying to distance himself from Netanyahu.
The sources told the American news outlet that the two leaders are increasingly at odds over a strategy for tackling challenges in the region, including Iran. While Netanyahu is pushing for military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump has begun to see an opportunity to remove the threat of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon by making a deal with the government.