TEHRAN – Despite five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations, US President Donald Trump seems to be less interested in diplomacy with Iran and is investing in maintaining tensions.
His latest threats are combined with fresh sanctions and zero-sum demands, suggesting he is not currently looking for a deal.
Speaking to a reporter on Air Force 1 on Friday, Trump once again took a tough stance on Iran’s nuclear program. “If they’re going to make them rich, we’ll have to reverse it and I really don’t want to do it,” he said. “There will not be any enrichment (of Iranian uranium),” he added.
His statement is open to interpretation as he did not explain what “opposite way” means.
This dull declaration directly challenges Iran’s rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Iranian officials have consistently emphasized that their nuclear work is a peaceful purpose, with Ayatollah Seiyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, recently asserting that uranium enrichment is essential to Iran’s scientific advances and self.
Trump’s basic enrichment rights rejection (what Iran thinks is in negotiable shows his lack of desire to reach consensus. Instead of fostering conversations, these statements create skepticism and show Tehran that Washington is not engaged in honest negotiations.
Parliamentary sanctions during discussion
In addition to tensions, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Friday, targeting 10 individuals and 27 entities in multiple countries. These sanctions announced while negotiations were still underway are seen by many as signs that Washington prefers pressure to compromise.
Among the newly blacklisted are companies based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, accused of supporting Iran’s state-owned oil shipping companies. These sanctions freeze US-linked assets and prohibit American companies from doing business with them.
Worse, Trump has expanded the controversial travel ban to include citizens from 12 countries, including Iran. Tehran’s Foreign Ministry has denounced the move as evidence that “superist and racist thinking” promotes foreign policy on us.
Deteriorating the Trump administration’s hard-line stance is increasing pressure from Congress. A bipartisan group of 16 lawmakers recently urged the administration to make the complete dismantling of Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities a prerequisite for any transaction. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov, the group argued that Iran should not maintain its ability to enrich uranium or continue to develop nuclear infrastructure.
Such maximalist demands have little room for negotiation and effectively guarantee failure. They also ignore the important concessions made by Iran under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA). It simply reinforces Tehran’s view that the US cannot be trusted, in order to demand more without providing more incentives or guarantees.
Iran’s response: solid but careful
Despite Washington’s aggressive stance, Iranian officials responded with relative restraint. Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi, who leads the Iranian negotiation team, confirmed that the US proposal had been submitted through the Omani Foreign Minister during his recent visit to Tehran. He said Iran will respond to the proposal based on “principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei reiterated the sentiment, saying that the US offers must be carefully evaluated and that Tehran’s response is based on national priorities. Iran’s message is clear. It remains open to dialogue, but does not sacrifice its sovereign rights or dignity.
“Snapback” issue
In addition to the urgency, the pending expiration of the UN Security Council snapback mechanism. This will allow for a re-challenge of global sanctions against Iran if it violates the nuclear agreement. The UK, France and Germany are reportedly preparing to submit a resolution at the IAEA Committee meeting on June 9th. Their goal is to cause snapbacks before they expire in October.
Tehran has already warned that activating the mechanism will trigger a strong response. Iranian officials see such a move as an attempt to pressure them to accept a one-sided deal. European leaders have argued that they must act quickly before losing this diplomatic tool, but their actions risk complicating consultations rather than promoting solutions.
There is no clear path to diplomacy
Donald Trump’s strategy on Iran’s nuclear program is characterized by an operation that focuses on the implementation of unilateral terms, rather than a sincere intention to achieve a fair and lasting agreement.
From vague threats and new sanctions to abundant demands and travel restrictions, his approach appears to focus on putting pressure on Iran rather than fostering peace through negotiations.
Iran has maintained its stance on rights, even amid economic tensions, demonstrating that it is ready to participate if the terms are fair. But diplomatic opportunities are rapidly diminishing as Washington continues to intensify pressure and claim just concessions.