Iran Says It Is Still Reviewing the U.S. Proposal as Nuclear Deal Talks Continue

Iran is playing down expectations for a developing agreement with the United States, saying on Sunday that it is still reviewing the American proposal. The semi-official Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Tehran has not yet made a final decision on the memorandum of understanding and that the review of its political, legal, and technical aspects is continuing at both professional and decision-making levels.

According to the report, a knowledgeable source close to the negotiating team said Iran has not announced a final position on the proposed text. Fars also said that responsible bodies are now carrying out a precise assessment of the deal’s political, legal, and technical implications.

The report comes after publication of details about the emerging framework between the two countries. Those reports said the draft contains 14 main points, including Iranian demands for $300 billion in compensation and the complete lifting of the naval blockade. Tehran also said ballistic missiles and support for proxy groups were taken entirely off the negotiating agenda.

In Israel, officials were surprised by the reported terms, and security figures are hoping Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will block the agreement. In recent days, protests have broken out in Tehran against the deal, with hard-line demonstrators denouncing senior Iranian officials leading the talks and saying the negotiations are being conducted without Khamenei’s approval.

The uncertainty also follows revelations that President Donald Trump recently halted, at the last moment, a secret U.S. military plan for a large-scale ground invasion of Iran. The plan was described as urgent and highly classified and involved commandos and infantry targeting strategic sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan to seize enriched uranium stocks. Military officials warned it could quickly escalate into a broader invasion, but Trump ultimately chose diplomacy, leaving the talks at a critical point.