Iran said on Friday that the United States must abandon its “excessive demands” for a nuclear deal to be reached, tempering earlier optimism following Oman-mediated talks seen as a last-ditch effort to avert a military conflict The statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes amid heightened regional tensions, a significant US military build-up, and a 15-day deadline for an agreement issued by US President Donald Trump on February 19
The high-stakes negotiations, facilitated by Oman, represent a critical diplomatic channel to de-escalate the situation. While the talks have been described by mediators as showing “significant progress,” sharp disagreements remain over the scope of any potential agreement Iran has consistently maintained that the discussions should focus exclusively on its nuclear programme In contrast, the US negotiating team is pushing for a broader deal that would also curtail Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for armed groups across the Middle East
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, the Trump administration’s demands include the complete dismantlement of Iran's three primary nuclear facilities and the handover of all its remaining enriched uranium to the United States Mr. Araghchi did not specify which US positions he considered “excessive,” but the publicly reported US stance illustrates the gap between the two sides. Despite the tough public posturing, the diplomatic track remains active, with officials hopeful another round of talks could occur soon, signaling that the window for a peaceful resolution has not yet closed
Mohsin Rana
