Trump Says Putin Offers to Mediate US-Iran Nuke Deadlock, Khamenei Warns Arabs of "Eternal Shame"

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-06-05 01:34:27 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-24 19:20:39

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned his country would take "stronger" measures if the new US proposal was against Iran's national interests, echoing remarks by the country's top leader.

The comments from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani came after US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin had offered to mediate in the talks over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks... But talks need honesty, talks need a real will to reach good results," said Rouhani according to state media.

"If the other side is not willing to make a move to settle the issues, (we) will take stronger measures towards safeguarding our national interests."

The latest round of talks between Iran and the United States paused on May 19, two days after the Iranian presidential election won by the more hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

Iran had said it would resume negotiations in July.

Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the latest proposal from Washington was against the national interest.

"The proposal presented by the Americans is 100 percent against" notions of independence and self-reliance, Khamenei said in a televised speech, invoking ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America," he added.

Longtime foes Washington and Tehran are at odds over whether Iran can continue to enrich uranium, a process used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors or if enriched much further for weapons.

The 2015 deal limited enrichment but Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and sanctions have since been ramped up.

Trump said Wednesday (June 1) that Putin had offered to mediate in the talks with Iran.

"I think it's an appropriate thing to do," Trump said, without saying when Putin made the offer.

"I believe that Iran would like to get this situation straightened out."

Arab states have also been trying to mediate the deadlock.

But Khamenei warned the Arab states against such manoeuvres, accusing them of conspiring with the United States.

"Arab countries should realise that Zionists and Americans are after making them slaves," he said. "If they pursue their plans, they will surely be defeated, but they will inflict great shame on themselves."

Khamenei made similar comments in a televised speech on Wednesday (June 2) marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"The Americans have offered their plan and it is up to the Iranian people to decide whether to accept it or not," Khamenei said, according to the state news agency IRNA.

"The Arab and Muslim states that are present at the negotiating table with the Americans should know that they are facing an evil and untrustworthy enemy."

The talks between Iran and the United States have been held in Vienna since April 11, mediated by the European Union.

They have been described as "constructive" but essentially exploratory, with no concrete outcome documented.

The United States insists that Iran rollback its nuclear programme to 2015 levels, while Tehran wants Washington to lift all sanctions it has reimposed since the withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

Iran has also demanded explanations over the US presence in the Middle East, including its activities in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

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