By: Fern Sidman

In the latest escalation of nuclear tensions, Iran has forcefully rejected a recent U.S. draft proposal aimed at reviving negotiations over its atomic program, labeling the offer “unprofessional and untechnical.” Iranian leaders accused Washington of deliberately sidestepping key Iranian demands, particularly the lifting of economic sanctions, and vowed to present a counteroffer in the coming days. The developments, reported in The Algemeiner on Thursday highlight the deepening impasse between the two nations, even as diplomatic channels remain tenuously open.

Ali Shamkhani, senior political adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, publicly confirmed that Iran is preparing an alternative proposal in response to the American terms conveyed via Omani intermediaries. “After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing a counteroffer,” Shamkhani told Iranian state media on Wednesday, as was reported by The Algemeiner.

Shamkhani’s criticism centered on the absence of sanctions relief—Tehran’s chief demand in any future nuclear accord. “There is no mention whatsoever of lifting sanctions in the latest American proposal, even though the issue of sanctions is a fundamental matter for Iran,” he declared. According to the information provided in The Algemeiner report, Iranian officials perceive the American offer as an attempt to compel Iran into compliance without offering tangible economic incentives in return.

“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program,” Ayatollah Khamenei added in a televised address, echoing Shamkhani’s sentiments. “Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?” Khamenei denounced the U.S. position as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and insisted that Iran “will never relinquish its natural rights.”

The remarks come after five inconclusive rounds of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. As The Algemeiner reported, Oman has played a central role in shuttling proposals between the two parties, most recently during a round of negotiations hosted in Rome. Despite mediation efforts, both sides remain entrenched, particularly over Iran’s demand to retain domestic uranium enrichment—a red line the Trump administration has refused to cross.

President Donald Trump, whose administration re-imposed severe economic sanctions on Iran following America’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has framed the negotiations as a vital national security issue. The JCPOA had previously imposed temporary restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign seeks to permanently end Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.

According to the information contained in The Algemeiner report, the Trump administration’s latest proposal reportedly seeks to curtail uranium enrichment activities altogether, a nonstarter for Tehran. “Iran will not allow the U.S. to dismantle its peaceful nuclear program or force enrichment down to zero,” Shamkhani said.

Meanwhile, Israel is watching the negotiations closely and has issued stern warnings about the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential threat and warned that Jerusalem reserves the right to act unilaterally if necessary. “Israel maintains the right to defend itself from a regime that is threatening to annihilate it,” Netanyahu stated at a recent press conference, as reported by The Algemeiner.

Netanyahu acknowledged that his government would support any diplomatic agreement that verifiably prevents Iran from enriching uranium for weapons purposes. However, he also signaled readiness to pursue military options if negotiations fail. The Algemeiner report indicated that Israel’s military is preparing contingency plans, including potential strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, should the diplomatic stalemate persist.

The standoff has broader implications for the region. As the report in The Algemeiner noted, Iran’s continued defiance threatens to trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, with other countries potentially seeking their own deterrents if Tehran acquires a weapons capability. Meanwhile, Iran insists its program remains strictly for peaceful purposes, a claim U.S. and Israeli officials continue to challenge.

The prospect of a counteroffer from Tehran adds yet another layer to the already complex negotiations. While some diplomats remain hopeful that a compromise can still be reached, the gulf between the two sides remains vast. For now, the world watches and waits as both capitals weigh their next moves—with nuclear stakes higher than ever.