Iran accused the United States on Thursday of “contradictory behavior and provocative statements” as tensions escalated ahead of a new round of nuclear negotiations. The U.S. has warned Iran of consequences for its support of Yemen’s Houthi rebels and imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil trade, undermining the ongoing nuclear talks.
The U.S. and Iran have been in discussions for the past month on a potential agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of financial sanctions. A fourth round of these negotiations is set to take place in Rome on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on entities accused of participating in the illicit trade of Iranian oil and petrochemicals, further straining relations. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran of repercussions for backing the Houthis, a group that controls northern Yemen and has attacked ships in the Red Sea in what they claim is solidarity with Palestinians.
The U.S. has conducted intense bombing campaigns against the Houthis since mid-March, striking over 1,000 targets. Tehran maintains that the Houthis act independently, without Iranian control.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, condemned the U.S. for its “contradictory approach” and accused American officials of undermining diplomacy. He stated, “The responsibility for the consequences and destructive effects of the contradictory behavior and provocative statements of American officials regarding Iran will lie with the American side.”
The U.S. has been adamant about the need for a new nuclear deal after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement during his first term. While both sides have described the previous rounds of talks as productive, the ongoing friction underscores the complexity of reaching a deal.
