Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on Sunday that the latest U.S. proposal for a renewed nuclear agreement does not include the lifting of sanctions, a key Iranian demand, according to reports from Iranian state media.
The statement comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran, which have engaged in five rounds of indirect, Omani-mediated negotiations since April.
The talks aim to replace the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the original nuclear deal that imposed limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 under President Donald Trump, reinstating economic sanctions on Iran and prompting Tehran to scale back its compliance with the accord.
In a video broadcast by Iranian state television, Ghalibaf stated that negotiations have reached a deadlock due to the absence of sanctions relief in the latest U.S. proposal.
Iranian officials have consistently emphasized that any new agreement must include the removal of economic sanctions as a fundamental component.
The U.S. government has not publicly responded to Ghalibaf’s comments or disclosed details of the proposal under discussion.
Officials from both countries continue to seek common ground, but the future of the negotiations remains uncertain as tensions persist and key demands remain unmet.