The foreign ministry spokesperson has said the negotiating parties involved in nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers have not reached agreement on any proposal.
"In the process of technical and expert talks, various proposals and initiatives are presented by delegations and discussed, but so far no proposal has been accepted by all parties," ISNA on Tuesday quoted Marzieh Afkham as saying.
The foreign ministry official made the remarks in reference to the report that the US has made a proposal that envisages the removal of piping connecting centrifuges at Iranian uranium enrichment facilities.
Diplomats told the Associated Press on Saturday that with Iran refusing US demands that it significantly reduce the size of its uranium enrichment program, the two sides were discussing a new proposal that would leave much of Tehran’s enriching machines in place but disconnected from feeds of uranium.
Ahead of the resumption of a new round of nuclear talks on Friday, the New York Times reported that Washington was considering putting a new plan on the table that would focus on removing piping connecting the centrifuges.
Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) are engaged in the talks on a final comprehensive deal to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, which has dragged on for over a decade.
Efforts to Scuttle Talks
A source close to the nuclear negotiating team told the Fars new agency on Monday that the New York Times report is in line with a media campaign to "spoil the atmosphere of the talks."
"The report does not match what is happening in the talks," the source said.
"Over the past few days, a positive and constructive atmosphere has prevailed in the talks, although the differences over major issues still remain. The two sides are trying to reduce differences."
Some lawmakers have also spoken against the new nuclear proposal.
MP Mansour Haqiqatpour has described the proposal as "ridiculous", saying the US is making “excessive demands.”
The proposal would turn Iran’s nuclear industry into a “decorative and window dressing” program, he said.
In addition, the deputy chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said the US is seeking to halt uranium enrichment in Iran.
"Removing the connectors of the centrifuges means shutting down enrichment in the country,” he said.
“In this case, the country’s nuclear industry will become useless,” he added.
