Egypt Daily News – According to Axios, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration presented Iran with a nuclear deal proposal during the fourth round of negotiations held on Sunday. The report states that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Tehran to consult with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other top officials.
At the same time, Trump announced that a nuclear deal with Iran was very close to being finalized, claiming that Iran had “somewhat” agreed to the U.S. conditions. However, Reuters quoted sources familiar with the talks as saying that gaps still remain between the two sides.
Oil Prices Drop Following Trump’s Statement
Trump described the negotiations with Tehran as serious and potentially leading to lasting peace. He stated that the agreement could be signed “either gently or with force,” though he added, “I don’t want to resort to the second option.”
Following Trump’s announcement, oil prices dropped by 3%, amid expectations that a possible deal could ease sanctions on Iran and lead to an increase in its oil exports.
Pezeshkian: “All Crimes and Instability Are Caused by Washington”
In response to Trump’s comment that Tehran is “the most destructive force in the Middle East,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “Trump thinks he can impose sanctions, threaten us, and then talk about human rights. All crimes and regional instability are caused by the United States. He wants to create chaos inside Iran.”
Meanwhile, in an interview with NBC News, Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei, showed significant flexibility, stating that Iran is willing to move toward a deal if economic sanctions are lifted.
Disagreement Over Uranium Destination
According to Reuters, Washington is not prepared to lift sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions. A key point of contention remains: where Iranian uranium would be sent if an agreement is reached.
In an attempt to address U.S. objections to its ongoing nuclear program, Tehran has proposed a new initiative to form a “nuclear coalition” that would include Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The coalition would collectively manage uranium enrichment operations.
Iran views this proposal as a diplomatic concession, offering to share its nuclear technology with neighboring countries and make them partners in overseeing the program. The initiative is also seen as a way to garner Gulf support for Iran’s right to maintain peaceful uranium enrichment capabilities.
Currently, the UAE is the only Arab country operating a fully integrated civilian nuclear power plant, the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, located west of Abu Dhabi. All four reactors at the plant are operational and contribute around 25% of the country’s electricity needs.
