Iran Condemns New US Sanctions Amid Nuclear Deal Stalemate

Iran has strongly criticized the United States for imposing new sanctions amid ongoing indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called the U.S. proposal on a nuclear deal contradictory and insincere, primarily because it fails to mention sanctions relief, which Iran views as essential. Tehran maintains that it is ready to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear program but expects guarantees including the removal of sanctions and the right to uranium enrichment. The Trump administration's sanctions target numerous Iranian individuals and entities involved in money laundering tied to Iran’s shadow banking, which the U.S. asserts supports nuclear and missile programs. Iranian officials condemned these sanctions as illegal and hostile, accusing the U.S. of economic coercion aimed at undermining Iranian citizens' rights while strengthening Iran’s resolve to protect its national interests. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader dismissed Trump’s nuclear deal offer as unrealistic, as uranium enrichment continues to rise, raising global security concerns.