Iran officials voice pessimism on reaching US deal before midterms
Officials in Tehran say a deal with Washington before the US midterm elections is unlikely, even as both sides describe separate contacts.
Published
Iranian officials say they see little chance of reaching an agreement with the United States before the US midterm elections.
The comments follow a meeting in New York between Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and international mediators. US representatives were not present. The talks were expected to focus on a revised seven-day proposal from Iran that had been discussed at the UN General Assembly, which President Trump has rejected.
A US official says Washington's offer includes unfreezing Iranian assets in exchange for progress on Iran's nuclear programme. A White House official has separately confirmed that Trump is open to sanctions relief tied to that progress. Iran's military chief, Abdollahi, has meanwhile warned of a "devastating response" to any threat, saying the United States and Israel were wrong to think the network he calls the "resistance" would collapse.
The pessimism from Tehran lines up with what was already known: talks have been stalled, Iran has held to a position of no direct negotiation, and Trump has turned down its latest proposal. It confirms the existing picture rather than adding anything new. With Washington also signalling it could ease sanctions if nuclear progress is made, the balance of risk priced into oil markets over the standoff is largely unchanged.