Trump: "Iran Has Not Met Our Standards Yet"... Rules Out Nuclear Material Handling by China, Russia (Comprehensive)

"I do not care about the midterm elections"
Rubio: "Further progress possible within days"
Iranian hardliners increase pressure over strait control and related issues

Final negotiations between the United States and Iran on ending hostilities are facing last-minute obstacles. U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn a clear line by stating that he cannot accept a plan in which China or Russia would be responsible for handling Iran's highly enriched uranium (HEU), thereby increasing the pressure on negotiations. Hardliners in Iran are also pressuring the Iranian negotiating team by setting issues such as control over the Strait of Hormuz as a 'red line.'

According to the White House on May 27 (local time), President Trump said during a cabinet meeting that "Iran very much wants to make a deal," but added, "So far, they have not reached a level that satisfies us."

He continued, "Either that (the deal) happens, or we just need to finish the job," adding, "Maybe we will have to go back and end it, or maybe we don't need to do that right now."

U.S. President Donald Trump. White House

When asked whether he could accept a plan for China or Russia to handle the HEU issue, which is the key point in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, President Trump replied, "No. That would make me uncomfortable."

Previously, President Trump had indicated that Iran's HEU could be disposed of under international supervision either within Iran or in a third country, even if it was not shipped to the United States. This is interpreted as a clear opposition to the involvement of Iran's allies, such as China and Russia, in handling the matter.

President Trump also rejected speculation that Iran was trying to use the U.S. domestic political situation as leverage in the talks, saying, "I do not care about the midterm elections," denying any pressure for an early agreement. He pointed out that Ken Paxton, the candidate he supported, won the Texas Republican primary the previous day, stating, "People understand that Iran should not have nuclear weapons."

However, the U.S. government has left open the possibility of negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the meeting, said, "There has been some progress and there is interest," adding, "We will see whether further progress can be made in the next few hours or days." He continued, "Diplomacy is always the first choice," emphasizing a solution through negotiations.

The biggest issues are control over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program. Regarding the issue of control over the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said, "No one will control it," adding, "It is international waters." He emphasized, "The strait will be open to all nations, and the United States will monitor this."

This directly contradicts Iran's demand for control over the strait as a condition for ending hostilities. According to the Financial Times (FT), ultra-hardline members of Iran's Paydari faction are pressuring the negotiating team by defining exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz, the imposition of shipping tolls, and a ban on the operation of Israel-linked vessels as 'red lines.'

Differences over the nuclear program also remain unresolved. In a brief telephone interview with PBS, President Trump was asked whether Iran could receive sanctions relief in return for giving up HEU, and he replied, "No. Absolutely not. Sanctions relief is not an option."

President Trump also stated in the cabinet meeting, "We are not talking about sanctions relief or giving money," adding, "We will return the money when they act properly."

Resistance from hardliners within Iran is also a variable in the negotiations. According to FT, hardline lawmakers have openly criticized the negotiating team for making excessive concessions to the United States beyond the authority of Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei. They are demanding a complete lifting of U.S. sanctions, guarantees against reimposition, and compensation for war damages.

Meanwhile, on the morning of May 27, Iran's state broadcaster reported that it had obtained a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) under negotiation between the United States and Iran, which included the lifting of the U.S. maritime blockade and the normalization of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the White House immediately denied this, calling it "complete fabrication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.