Iran to Submit Counterproposal on Nuclear Deal to US via Oman
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will soon present a counterproposal to the United States regarding the nuclear deal.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei made the announcement on Monday during a weekly press briefing in Tehran. He said the Iranian government found key elements of the U.S. proposal lacking — particularly regarding the longstanding issue of sanctions relief — and would soon respond through diplomatic mediation by Oman.
“We will soon present our own proposed plan to the other side through Oman once it is finalised,” Baghaei stated, without providing specific details.
The development comes amid renewed, though indirect, nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The talks are aimed at reviving some form of the 2015 nuclear deal — officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — which was abandoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018.
Tensions remain high. Iran has been critical of recent assessments by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the UN nuclear watchdog of bias and reliance on Israeli-supplied intelligence. Baghaei dismissed the IAEA’s latest report on Iran’s nuclear activities as “unbalanced” and based on “forged documents.”
The IAEA has expressed frustration with what it calls Iran’s “less than satisfactory” cooperation, particularly regarding explanations for past nuclear work at undeclared sites. Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently warned that any military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities — such as one by Israel — could drive Tehran closer to pursuing nuclear weapons or prompt its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
In Washington, President Trump, who is once again a key figure in U.S. politics, has commented on the ongoing talks, calling Iran “tough” and “highly skilled” at negotiation. He also said he had advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking any action that might derail the sensitive diplomatic process.
Despite the cautious optimism, it remains unclear when the next round of indirect negotiations will take place. Baghaei confirmed that discussions are ongoing but gave no timeline for when Iran’s proposal would be delivered.
