Iran's top negotiator says Tehran will not compromise in US talks
Iran's top negotiator Abbas Araghchi said Tehran 'will not compromise on essential matters' in indirect talks with the United States and described the negotiations as at 'a very delicate stage.' White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed 'significant distance' remained between the sides as Brent crude climbed from $99.80 back above $102 per barrel.
Iran's Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi told CBS Weekly Bulletin in an exclusive interview that Tehran 'will not compromise on essential matters' in indirect talks with the United States, conducted via Oman and Qatar, and described the negotiations as being at 'a very delicate stage.' Araghchi also alleged the US delegation had presented 'unexpected demands' on uranium-enrichment thresholds, frozen-asset release and the Strait of Hormuz transit-toll regime.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in Monday's traffic briefing that 'significant distance remained between the parties' and underlined Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remark at the New Delhi joint press conference that 'we have not converged on critical issues.' Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James Risch said Friday that Congress could vote on renewing Iran-specific authorisations on Tuesday, while Democratic member Tim Kaine plans to introduce a war-powers limitation resolution on Monday.
Markets reacted immediately to the deadlock: Brent crude rose from $99.80 to $102.30 per barrel (approximately +2.5%), while WTI traded at $96.80. Goldman Sachs analyst Daan Struyven argued that if the Hormuz disruption extends into August, Brent could settle in the $108-$112 range and would lift global inflation forecasts by approximately 0.4 percentage points. This is not investment advice; markets may remain volatile.
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