Iran has urged the United States to drop what it calls excessive demands if both sides are to reach a deal and prevent their conflict from sliding back into full scale war. Iranian officials say Washington must adopt a more realistic approach in the ongoing talks and avoid miscalculations that could derail progress.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed this message in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, after the latest round of discussions between Iranian and US negotiators. He said success in the negotiations requires seriousness, realism and an end to overreaching demands from the American side.
The talks, mediated by Oman and held in Geneva and Islamabad in recent weeks, are widely seen as a last ditch effort to secure a broader agreement that would include a ceasefire and steps to ease tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. They have taken place against the backdrop of a substantial US military build up in the region and repeated threats by President Donald Trump to strike Iran if diplomacy fails.
Iran insists that the negotiations should focus primarily on its nuclear programme and related sanctions. By contrast, the US is pushing for a wider deal that would also place limits on Tehran’s missile capabilities and its support for armed groups in the region.
Reports in US media say Trump’s team has demanded the dismantling of Iran’s three main nuclear facilities and the transfer of all remaining enriched uranium out of the country as part of any agreement. Iranian officials view these conditions as unrealistic and far beyond the scope of what they are prepared to accept.
Araghchi has nonetheless described some of the recent sessions as constructive, saying both sides have “entered into the elements of an agreement very seriously” on nuclear and sanctions issues. But he warned that continued insistence on maximalist positions by the US could erase the progress made so far.
Other Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have also blamed what they term excessive American demands for the failure to reach an understanding during the latest weekend talks. They have cautioned that additional pressure or threats to the Strait of Hormuz will only harden Iran’s stance and increase the risk of renewed confrontation.
Despite the setbacks, both sides have left the door open for further negotiations. Regional observers say whether a deal is reached will depend largely on Washington’s willingness to scale back its demands and Tehran’s readiness to offer verifiable concessions on its nuclear activities.
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