• Iran is set to submit a counter-proposal to the US following concerns over a recent US offer deemed "unacceptable".
• The US proposal lacks critical provisions for sanctions relief and fails to address Iran's uranium enrichment rights.
• A new round of negotiations is expected to occur on Sunday, mediated by Oman.
• Iran continues to enrich uranium at levels above the 2015 agreement's limits, asserting it as a non-negotiable right.
• International scrutiny is increasing due to perceived non-compliance with nuclear regulations by Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry has announced plans to present a counter-proposal for a nuclear deal with the United States, to be communicated via Oman. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the US proposal as "unacceptable," stating it does not adequately address Tehran's demands, particularly the lifting of sanctions and the reliance on its uranium enrichment activities, which Iran considers its "non-negotiable" right. This development comes after five rounds of negotiations since April, aimed at replacing the 2015 nuclear accord abandoned by President Trump in 2018, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

In the latest unproductive round of negotiations, Iran expressed dissatisfaction with the US offer, which it claims lacks elements addressed in prior discussions. A senior Iranian official remarked, "We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalised," characterizing it as "reasonable, logical, and balanced." The anticipated new round of talks is set for Sunday in Muscat, though some US officials have suggested it could happen earlier, possibly this coming Thursday or Friday, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.

Recently, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated the country's commitment to uranium enrichment, stating that the US proposal contradicted Iran's national interests. This position underscores the stark division over the topic, as the US continues to regard Iran's enrichment as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons capability, despite Tehran's claims that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes. The standoff is further complicated by Western accusations regarding Iran's nuclear aspirations, as enhanced scrutiny from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) intensifies, according to TRT Global and India Times.

As Iran prepares its counter-proposal, the international diplomatic landscape remains fraught with tension, particularly related to its uranium enrichment capabilities, which currently stand at 60 percent—significantly exceeding the 3.67 percent limit set in the original 2015 agreement. US President Trump has voiced skepticism about the negotiations, indicating that major concessions from Iran are necessary to avoid a military confrontation, illustrating the high stakes of the ongoing discussions, according to South China Morning Post and India Times.