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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Thursday called on the Iranian authorities to accept a proposal by Washington’s special envoy for a nuclear deal. This comes a day after Iran’s supreme leader claimed that the US “can’t do a damn thing” about his country’s nuclear program.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has sent a “detailed proposal” to Iranian authorities, and “we encourage the Iranian regime to accept it. It is in their best interest to accept it,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Rudaw during a press briefing.
“We've also been clear again and again and again that the Iranian regime can never have a nuclear weapon, that there is a good option and a bad option in regards to that. Beyond that, it is not in our national interest to negotiate these issues publicly. But I can't say that it is in the Iranian regime's best interest to accept the proposal that was given by Special Envoy Witkoff, and again, reiterate what has been made clear from the beginning, that the Iranian regime could never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Indirect, Oman-mediated talks between Tehran and Washington have been ongoing since April 12, with the fifth and most recent round held on May 23.
“We expect to meet with the Iranians again soon,” Pigott said.
White House confirmed for the first time on Saturday that the US had sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday doubled down on rejecting the United States’ “no uranium enrichment” precondition for a nuclear deal, accusing Washington of trying to obstruct Tehran’s nuclear development and declaring, “They can't do a damn thing about it.”
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has sent a “detailed proposal” to Iranian authorities, and “we encourage the Iranian regime to accept it. It is in their best interest to accept it,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Rudaw during a press briefing.
“We've also been clear again and again and again that the Iranian regime can never have a nuclear weapon, that there is a good option and a bad option in regards to that. Beyond that, it is not in our national interest to negotiate these issues publicly. But I can't say that it is in the Iranian regime's best interest to accept the proposal that was given by Special Envoy Witkoff, and again, reiterate what has been made clear from the beginning, that the Iranian regime could never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Indirect, Oman-mediated talks between Tehran and Washington have been ongoing since April 12, with the fifth and most recent round held on May 23.
“We expect to meet with the Iranians again soon,” Pigott said.
White House confirmed for the first time on Saturday that the US had sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday doubled down on rejecting the United States’ “no uranium enrichment” precondition for a nuclear deal, accusing Washington of trying to obstruct Tehran’s nuclear development and declaring, “They can't do a damn thing about it.”
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