Trump urges quick Iran deal, but Tehran says no written offer received

On Friday, a senior Iranian official retaliated against US President Donald Trump, describing his recent comments on a nuclear agreement as “confusing and contradictory.”

As he returned from the Middle East earlier Friday, Trump told reporters on board Air Force One that the United States presented Iran with a formal proposal for a new nuclear agreement and urged Tehran to “move quickly.”

“Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on the social networking site X.  “In the meantime, the messaging we-and the world-continue to receive is confusing and contradictory.

“Iran nonetheless remains determined and straightforward: Respect our rights and terminate your sanctions, and we have a deal,” he said.

Trump informed reporters earlier this week that the two nations were engaged in “very serious negotiations.”

Additionally, in recent days, the president has stated that Tehran cannot have its own nuclear weapon but has also signalled an openness to the Middle Eastern nation having a civilian nuclear program.

In his post on Friday, Araghchi emphasised Iran’s dedication to nuclear enrichment.

In reference to the international nuclear treaty, he stated, “Mark my words: there is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment for peaceful purposes: a right afforded to all other [Non-Proliferation Treaty] signatories, too.”

In recent weeks, U.S. and Iranian officials have convened to discuss the specifics of an accord. During his first term, Trump pulled out of an agreement with former President Obama that granted sanctions relief in return for nuclear limitations.

Trump reaffirmed his desire for speedy discussions in an interview that aired on Fox News on Friday night.

“Iran wants to trade with us, okay, if you can believe that. And I’m OK with it,” Trump told interviewer Bret Baier, “I’m using trade to settle scores and to make peace. But I’ve told Iran we make a deal.”

“There’s not plenty of time,” he added.