Are US-Iran Talks Collapsing? Iran Blasts U.S. 'Unrealistic' Demands in Nuclear Showdown

Iran has pushed back against the US following recent comments from Trump administration officials indicating that Tehran would need to completely halt uranium enrichment as a condition for any future nuclear agreement.

In an official response issued Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei criticized Washington for what he described as inconsistent and unrealistic negotiating positions. “Such contradictory approaches only delay the process and erode trust,” he stated.

The latest remarks signal a hardening stance from Iran after earlier, more flexible rhetoric. Last week, a senior Iranian nuclear official had suggested that Tehran might consider ending uranium enrichment if the U.S. were to fully lift sanctions. But that proposal now appears off the table as Iranian officials reassert enrichment as a non-negotiable right.

According to Baqaei, Iran will continue enriching uranium regardless of whether a deal is reached, framing it as a sovereign right that cannot be bargained away. “These negotiations cannot succeed when the other side constantly shifts its position. In such conditions, mutual trust cannot be expected,” he said.

Echoing those concerns, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi warned that if the U.S. insists on a “zero enrichment” condition, the diplomatic efforts are destined to fail. “Our stance has been consistent: enrichment is a national achievement, and we will not retreat from it,” he declared.

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed during weekend interviews that Washington views a complete halt to enrichment as a non-negotiable demand.

Axios reported that a written proposal was sent to Tehran the previous Sunday, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi bringing the document back for consultation with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other top officials.

As talks continue, the divide over uranium enrichment remains a major obstacle, one that could ultimately derail any chance of reviving a nuclear agreement.`