Overview
- Supreme Leader Ali Jamenei dismissed Washington’s June 1 draft as contrary to Iran’s self-sufficiency and vowed to continue enriching uranium for national independence.
- The US offer would have required Iran to cease enrichment in return for joining a Gulf-wide nuclear energy consortium led by America for peaceful power generation.
- An IAEA report shows Iran’s enriched uranium reserves have risen about 50% to a 60% purity level, intensifying concerns over its breakout capacity.
- Five rounds of indirect talks brokered by Oman since April 12 have produced no breakthrough, leaving negotiations at a standstill.
- Separately, Washington lifted 46-year sanctions on Syria, signaling a realignment of US policy in the Middle East independent of the Iran talks.