[Text/Observer Network Xiong Chaoyi] Local time on May 16, US President Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One as he left the UAE that Iran must quickly take action on the nuclear program proposed by the United States, or "something bad will happen."

According to a Reuters report on local time May 17, when Trump visited the Middle East this week, he claimed "he hopes for peace in the region," while Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei harshly criticized Trump for "lying." Khamenei believed, on the contrary, that the United States was using its power to provide "10 tons of bombs" to the "Zionist regime (Israel)" to fall on Gaza children.

Khamenei stated that Trump's remarks "are not worth responding to," and added that these remarks "shame both the speaker and the American people." "Without a doubt, the root cause of corruption, war, and conflict in the region is the Zionist regime - a dangerous and fatal cancer tumor that must be eradicated, and it will be uprooted." He said during an event held at a religious center in Tehran that day.

On May 17 local time, Tehran, Iran, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei made public remarks. Visual China

It was reported that earlier on the morning of May 17 local time, Iranian President Pezeshkzad also accused Trump of making threats while talking about peace. "Which one should we believe?" he said at a naval event held in Tehran: "On the one hand, he talks about peace, on the other hand, he threatens to use the most advanced tools of mass killing."

Pezeshkzad also said that Iran would continue to negotiate with the United States on the nuclear issue but would not fear threats. "We do not seek war and will not give up our legitimate rights," said Pezeshkzad.

Local time on May 16, Trump also said on Air Force One that Iran had received a proposal from the United States regarding the nuclear agreement. In response to this claim, Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif subsequently stated on the social media platform X that Tehran had not received any such suggestions. "Iran will never abandon its hard-won right to enrich uranium peacefully."

Since Trump returned to the White House in January this year, he has restarted his "maximum pressure" policy against Iran during his first term and increased military deployments in the Middle East. He has also repeatedly threatened Iran, saying that if no diplomatic agreement is reached, the United States will take actions such as "unprecedented bombing."

The United States and Iran held their first round of indirect negotiations in Masqat, the capital of Oman, on April 12. This was the first formal negotiation between the two sides since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018. Subsequently, the two sides held their second round of indirect negotiations in Rome, the capital of Italy, on April 19, and their third round of indirect negotiations in Masqat on April 26.

Currently, the fourth round of negotiations between the United States and Iran is ongoing. Previously, US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned during the fourth round of talks held in Masqat, the capital of Oman, that the talks were "encouraging."

However, according to a report by CNN on May 10, an Iranian official said that Iran believed the United States' performance in the indirect nuclear negotiations was "not sincere," attempting to play "political and media games." Iran suspected that the negotiations might have been designed from the start as a "trap to escalate tensions," and was preparing for the possibility of failed negotiations.

This Iranian official told CNN that the United States "basically was not prepared for meaningful technical and political negotiations," only giving "brief and general responses" during the process, ignoring major proposals, and "constantly changing positions." The US attitude led Iran to conclude that the negotiations may not achieve expected results in terms of lifting sanctions and economic benefits.

On May 9, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif also told the media that Iran had received "contradictory messages" from the United States, with different officials expressing different views. "Some think this is because the new US administration has just come to power and has not yet fully determined its position. Others think this might be part of the US negotiation strategy." However, he emphasized that Iran would remain firm on the path of negotiations.

According to NBC News reports, on May 14 local time, Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, said in an interview that Iran was prepared to sign a conditional nuclear agreement with the Trump administration in exchange for the lifting of all economic sanctions. Shamkhani, who serves as Khamenei's highest political, military, and nuclear affairs advisor and is one of the highest-ranking officials in Iran publicly discussing negotiation progress, said that Iran would commit to never producing nuclear weapons, destroy its high-enriched uranium stockpile usable for weaponization, agree to enrich uranium only to lower concentrations needed for civilian purposes, and allow international inspectors to oversee this process, in exchange for immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran. When asked whether Iran would immediately sign such an agreement if the conditions were met, Shamkhani gave an affirmative response, "Yes."

He said that Shamkhani's remarks seemed to be the clearest public statement so far from the core circle around Iran's Supreme Leader regarding Iran's expectations and willingness to reach an agreement. As the Supreme Leader has final authority over all national security matters, Shamkhani also said that if the US言行 are consistent, improving relations remains possible, "which may bring better situations in the near future."

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