The Iranian chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran will not accept any deal with the United States unless Iranian rights are fully guaranteed, after reports President Donald Trump returned a tougher framework. Iran demands the release of about $12 billion in frozen assets before substantive nuclear talks, while Washington says its priorities include preventing a nuclear weapon and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Military strikes have damaged Iranian missile facilities, but reports indicate Tehran has repaired many tunnel entrances; fighting continues in Lebanon after Israel captured the Beaufort castle.
Iran Says It Will Not Accept Deal Without Guarantees As Trump Sends Tougher Framework
US President Donald Trump has said his priorities for any deal include stopping Iran's from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz (Kent NISHIMURA)(Kent NISHIMURA/AFP/AFP)
Tehran said it will not sign any settlement with Washington unless Iranian rights are fully guaranteed, after reports that US President Donald Trump returned a tougher peace framework to negotiators. The warning from Iran's chief negotiator underscores the remaining gaps that could delay efforts to formally end the Middle East war and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
A photograph taken from the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli air strike on the village of Arnoun on May 30 (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Negotiations and Outstanding Demands
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not approve an agreement until it was certain that the rights of the Iranian people had been upheld, warning negotiators against accepting terms that fall short of those guarantees. State media quoted him in a video broadcast, while Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that exchanges on the draft text are ongoing and that both sides are regularly proposing amendments.
The blockaded Strait of Hormuz has been a key point of contention in negotiations to strike an initial peace deal (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Iran has insisted it needs the release of about $12 billion in frozen assets before engaging in substantive discussions on its nuclear programme. Iranian officials have dismissed earlier US comments that Tehran's enriched uranium stockpile would be destroyed as baseless.
US President Donald Trump has implied an agreement to end the war wit Iran, but Tehran officials say they don't trust Washington to honour any agreement (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
US Proposal And Reactions
The New York Times and Axios reported that President Trump returned a firmer framework for Iran to consider, though both outlets said many details remain unclear. Trump has said his main aims are to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to reopen the Hormuz shipping lane, which Tehran has effectively restricted during the conflict. In a Fox interview he said the guarantee he needs is that there will be no nuclear weapons.
US President Donald Trump has said his priorities for any deal include stopping Iran's from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz (Kent NISHIMURA)(Kent NISHIMURA/AFP/AFP)
Iranian foreign ministry officials and state broadcasters have cautioned that until a clear conclusion is reached, much of what is being said remains speculative. Negotiators on both sides still appear far apart on core issues.
The blockaded Strait of Hormuz has been a key point of contention in negotiations to strike an initial peace deal (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Security Situation And Military Impact
One declared aim of US strikes was to degrade Iran's ballistic missile capability. US military officials estimated that a large proportion of missile facilities were hit, while CNN reported that satellite analysis shows Iran has been able to excavate and repair many tunnel entrances at underground missile sites that were struck.
US President Donald Trump has implied an agreement to end the war wit Iran, but Tehran officials say they don't trust Washington to honour any agreement (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Although a temporary ceasefire agreed in April largely halted daily strikes across Iran and the Gulf, sporadic attacks have continued. Iran's state broadcaster said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down a US military drone alleged to be entering Iranian territorial waters; Washington had not publicly confirmed the incident at the time of reporting.
A photograph taken from the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli air strike on the village of Arnoun on May 30 (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Strait Of Hormuz And Economic Stakes
Both sides face intense pressure to resolve competing blockades and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments. Trump said Iran would charge no tolls on ships under any deal, but Iranian outlets disputed that such a clause currently exists. Iranian lawmakers have discussed plans asserting management and sovereignty over the strait, potentially including administrative fees.
Lebanon Front And Regional Concerns
Tehran has insisted any comprehensive peace arrangement address the situation in Lebanon, where fighting continues between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. An Israeli strike on Deir Zahrani in southern Lebanon reportedly killed eight people, including three women, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Diplomatic sources told AFP the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss Israel's expanding offensive after its seizure of the medieval Beaufort castle, a strategically significant site. Israeli leaders described the capture as a dramatic shift; smoke was reported around the site as journalists saw an Israeli flag flying above the castle.
Outlook
Negotiations remain fragile. With both sides proposing amendments to the draft text, outcomes hinge on whether guarantees, asset releases and security provisions can be reconciled. For now, key questions over nuclear restrictions, economic relief and regional security keep any final deal uncertain.
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