Iran is open to compromise with Trump, signaling that the US understands its limits

Iran is willing to make concessions regarding its nuclear program during discussions with the United States; however, uranium enrichment is a matter that cannot be negotiated, as stated by Tehran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson to CNN, who noted that Washington is aware of this stance.

“If the goal is to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is not weaponized, I believe that is something we can easily achieve,” said Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, during a statement in Tehran on Monday. When CNN inquired about how a compromise could be achieved in the discussions, Baghaei responded, “There are numerous ways,” without providing further details.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that Iran’s entitlement to nuclear energy must be safeguarded, reiterating the longstanding Iranian viewpoint on negotiations. “If the (US’) aim is to strip Iranians of their right to peaceful nuclear energy, I believe that would pose significant challenges to the extent that it could jeopardize the entire process,” he remarked.

Following the fifth round of US-Iran negotiations in Rome on Friday, President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday regarding the progress being made.

“We engaged in some very productive discussions with Iran yesterday and today, and we will see what unfolds. However, I believe we might receive some positive updates regarding Iran,” Trump informed reporters in New Jersey as he readied to head back to Washington.

🚨 BREAKING: Trump has had talks with Iran this weekend. He says “good news” could be coming soon with Iran on the nuclear front.

“I have a feeling I might be telling you something good. We’ve had some serious progress.” pic.twitter.com/JkKKNqPV28

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 25, 2025

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as “one of the most professional rounds of negotiations” to date, but noted that the critical issues were “too complex to be settled in just two or three meetings.” While the Trump administration has been optimistic about its demand for Tehran to cease all uranium enrichment – which is vital for both civilian and military nuclear purposes – Baghaei indicated that the conduct of US negotiators during the discussions hints at a more lenient stance. “The fact that we have continued our discussions thus far indicates that we recognize there is a certain level of understanding that Iran cannot, under any circumstances, relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear energy,” he stated.

In March, Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog IAEA, reported that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium had surged by fifty percent in three months. “Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching at this level, which raises serious concerns for me,” he remarked.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei openly dismissed the likelihood of a deal and taunted US negotiators ahead of Friday’s discussions. “Try not to speak nonsense,” he urged them in a message attributed to him on his official website last week. Nevertheless, Baghaei expressed hope regarding the potential for a US-Iranian agreement, envisioning a “win-win” situation for both parties. “If there is genuine will, there are ways,” he asserted. “There is not just one path; there are numerous options.”

Several American officials informed CNN last week that the US has acquired new intelligence indicating that Israel is preparing to target Iranian nuclear facilities, even as the Trump administration seeks a diplomatic resolution with Tehran.

Baghaei stated that Iran remains steadfast in the face of the threat of unilateral Israeli military action against it. Iranians would not yield to any form of pressure.