Uncertainty looms over US-Iran talks as Tehran accuses Trump of 'contradictory behaviour'

With the fourth round of Iran-US talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme postponed, uncertainty looms large over achieving a constructive deal. Even though the dialogues were taking place, tensions have also been simmering between both nations.

‘Logistical reasons’ have been cited for postponing the talks, scheduled to be held on Saturday (May 3). The first round of talks took place in Muscat, the second in Rome and the third was held again in Muscat on April 26.

US President Donald Trump has stressed his aim that he wanted to prevent Iran from making any nuclear weapons. However, Iran has framed its nuclear programme as a civilian energy project.

Iran has said that it has every right to enrich uranium under the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that several NPT members enrich uranium while wholly rejecting nuclear weapons. “Apart from Iran, this club includes several Asian, European, and South American nations. Maximalist positioning and incendiary rhetoric achieve nothing except eroding the chances of success." Araqchi said.

The next round of the talks would be “depending on the US approach”, Iran said after the postponement, which came after the US imposed fresh sanctions on companies linked to Tehran.

There were also reports that Iran has described growing doubt about the usefulness of these talks as, on one side, the US continues to impose sanctions under Trump's 'maximum pressure' policy towards Tehran.

Iran has accused the US of "contradictory behaviour" with the imposition of new sanctions.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Iran has to "walk away" from uranium enrichment and also from "sponsoring terrorists".

"They have to walk away from helping the Houthis (in Yemen), they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment," said Rubio in an interview with Fox News.

However, Iran has made its stand clear that it would not give up its missile programme or uranium enrichment.

Rubio said that Iran should import enriched uranium for its nuclear power programme rather than enriching it to any level. "If you have the ability to enrich at 3.67%, it only takes a few weeks to get to 20%, then 60%, and then the 80% and 90% that you need for a weapon," he said.

On Thursday, Trump said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop and that any country or person buying any from the country would be immediately subject to secondary sanctions.

However, the foreign ministry said that Iran would not tolerate approaches based on threats and pressure.

Middle East