Trump expresses confidence in reaching an agreement with Iran

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that serious negotiations are underway with Iran aimed at reaching a long-term peace agreement, describing the prospect as amazing if it materializes.

Trump’s remarks came during a meeting with businessmen from the United States and Qatar in the capital, Doha, where he confirmed that “Iran has expressed preliminary agreement to a number of the proposed conditions,” adding, “I’ll call on Iran to reach a comprehensive agreement that prevents it from possessing nuclear weapons”.

He continued by saying, “We want Iran to become a strong and prosperous country, but it cannot possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances”.

Trump indicated that the negotiations are moving in a positive direction, saying, “We’re close to making real progress, and I believe we are getting closer to an agreement,” noting Qatar’s role in mediating and supporting the diplomatic process.

He added, “Iran is fortunate to have the Emir of Qatar, who is working to avoid escalation and is strongly encouraging an agreement”.

For its part, Tehran has confirmed its readiness to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Washington, according to statements by Ali Shamkhani, the political and nuclear advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Shamkhani explained that Iran is prepared to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, provided that all economic sanctions imposed on it are lifted.

NBC News quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Iran is also prepared to commit not to producing nuclear weapons, to limit uranium enrichment to low levels for civilian purposes, and to allow international inspectors to monitor nuclear sites, provided sanctions are fully lifted.

As part of these efforts, the fourth round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran was held last Sunday in the Omani capital, Muscat, as part of a series of meetings aimed at breaking the deadlock over the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman described the round as difficult but constructive, emphasizing that it helped to better understand the positions of both sides.

Previous rounds were held between Muscat and Rome, with the first and third rounds held in Oman on April 12 and 26, while the Italian capital hosted the second round on April 19.

The talks followed a letter Trump sent to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in early March, in which he proposed a new nuclear agreement while warning of “military options” if diplomatic efforts failed.

Although Tehran refused to enter into direct negotiations, it agreed to an indirect dialogue mediated by several international parties.