US close to nuclear deal with Iran
US President Donald Trump said on May 15 that the US is very close to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran has "partially" agreed to the terms.
"We are in very serious negotiations with Iran for a lasting peace," Trump said during a trip to the Gulf, according to a joint news report by AFP.
"We're getting closer to being able to get a deal without having to do this... there are two steps to doing this, there's a very, very nice step and there's a violent step, but I don't want to do the second way," he said.
An Iranian source familiar with the talks said there were still differences to narrow in talks with the US.
New talks between Iranian and US negotiators aimed at resolving disputes over Tehran's nuclear program ended in Oman on May 12 and further talks were planned, officials said, as Tehran publicly vowed to continue enriching uranium.
Although both Tehran and Washington have said they prefer a diplomatic solution to resolve the decades-old nuclear dispute, the two sides remain divided over some of the red lines negotiators will have to cross to reach a new deal and prevent future military action.
Iran's president has responded to Mr Trump's comments on May 13 calling Tehran "the most destructive force" in the Middle East.
"Trump thinks he can sanction and threaten us and then talk about human rights. All the crimes and instability in the region are caused by them (the US)," said Masoud Pezeshkian. "He wants to create instability inside Iran."
US officials have publicly stated that Iran should stop enriching uranium, a position Iranian officials have called a “red line,” asserting that they will not give up what they see as their right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil.
However, they have expressed their willingness to reduce the level of enrichment.
Iranian officials have also expressed a willingness to reduce their stockpile of highly enriched uranium – uranium enriched beyond levels typically needed for civilian purposes, such as generating nuclear power.
However, they said they would not accept a stockpile level lower than the amount agreed in a deal with world powers in 2015 - a deal Mr Trump withdrew from.
While Iran is willing to make what it sees as concessions, "the problem is that the US is unwilling to lift key sanctions in return," the Iranian source said.
Western sanctions have had a severe impact on Iran's economy.
Regarding the reduction of enriched uranium in the stockpile, the source noted: “Tehran also wants this to be done in stages, which the US also does not agree with.”
There is also disagreement over where the highly enriched uranium will be sent, the source added.
