Skip to main content

US calls Iran’s latest nuclear deal offer 'not constructive'

Iran insisted it put forward “a constructive approach aimed at finalizing the negotiations.” 
ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Long-running efforts to revive the landmark Iranian nuclear deal suffered an apparent setback after the United States said late Thursday that Iran’s latest proposal to revive the 2015 pact was “not constructive.” 

“We can confirm that we have received Iran’s response through the EU,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. “We are studying it and will respond through the EU, but unfortunately it is not constructive.”

The specifics of the Iranian response weren’t immediately clear. But on Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani insisted that Tehran had put forward “a constructive approach aimed at finalizing the negotiations.”  

The United States and Iran have for weeks been trading feedback on what the European Union, which is mediating the indirect talks, described as a final proposal to revive the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, had described the initial responses from both Washington and Tehran as “reasonable,” and on Wednesday said that he hoped for an agreement “in the coming days.” French President Emmanuel Macron further raised speculation on Thursday, saying a deal could be concluded within days. 

The latest back-and-forth comes after nearly a year and a half of intermittent negotiations to salvage the pact that former President Donald Trump quit in 2018. After the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran began steadily violating the accord, which set curbs on the purity and amount of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for international sanctions relief. 

In recent weeks, diplomats have sounded more upbeat that an agreement could finally be within reach. US officials said gaps remained but that prospects for a renewed deal had improved after Iran made some concessions, including dropping its demand for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ removal from the US terrorism blacklist.   

Asked whether further talks could be held to bridge the gaps between the two sides, an EU source told Al-Monitor on Monday that the parties would only return to Vienna for the purposes of adopting an agreement. 

Congressional opponents of the JCPOA are meanwhile ramping up their criticism ahead of the November midterm elections. On Thursday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining their concerns with the looming deal.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial