Key points
- If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations: Shamkhani
- Trump has repeatedly said Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon
- Iran has always denied that it is seeking to do so
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump says that Iran has “sort of” agreed to the terms of a nuclear deal with the United States.
Trump described the latest talks between the two countries, which ended on Sunday, as “very serious negotiations” for “long-term peace”, according to BBC.
Iranian top official
Earlier, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said in an interview published by NBC News on Wednesday said Iran is ready to sign a nuclear deal with certain conditions with President Donald Trump in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is one of the most senior Iranian officials to speak publicly about the ongoing discussions.
He said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium which can be weaponised, agree to enrich uranium only to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran.
Agreement today
Asked if Iran would agree to sign an agreement today if those conditions were met, Shamkhani said, “Yes.”
His comments appear to be the clearest public statement yet on Iran’s expectations and willingness to reach a deal from the supreme leader’s inner circle. Iran’s supreme leader has the final say on all matters of national security.
“It’s still possible. If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations,” Shamkhani said, adding, “it can lead to a better situation in the near future.”
Trump’s Olive branch
Shamkhani sat down with NBC News just hours after Trump offered Iran “an olive branch” that was combined with threats of crippling economic sanctions should Iran not accept an agreement to limit its nuclear programme.
It’s still possible. If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations.” – Ali Shamkhani, top nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader
Shamkhani also expressed frustration at Trump’s tone and continued threats.
“He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It’s all barbed wire,” he said.
“Encouraging”
Trump has repeatedly said Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran has always denied that it is seeking to do so.
The US and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme for weeks, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round in Muscat, the capital of Oman, “encouraging.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, called the negotiations “difficult but useful.”
“Remove the Bibi effect”
In Wednesday’s interview, Shamkhani expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, often known by the nickname Bibi, could try to derail the process through backchannel lobbying in Washington.
“If the Americans remove the Bibi effect, they can easily sign the deal,” Shamkhani said.
There are signs, however, that Trump may be distancing himself from Netanyahu. NBC News previously reported that, according to two US officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge of the tensions, the two leaders are increasingly at odds over a strategy for tackling challenges in the region, including Iran.
While Netanyahu has supported military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump has begun to see an opportunity to remove the threat of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon by making a deal with the government, the sources said, the NBC News reported.
