White House deny report of nearing interim nuclear deal with Iran

The White House, the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, denied a report that the United States and Iran were making progress on a new nuclear deal.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council denied all the reports, saying, “This report is false and misleading. Any reports of an interim deal are false.”

Iran's mission to the United Nations also denied any reports that claimed Washington and Tehran were making progress on a new nuclear deal. 

Reportedly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Thursday about Iran and the nuclear deal. According to an Israeli readout of the conversation, Netanyahu said, “Israel will not be bound by any deal with Iran and will do everything to defend itself.”

According to reports, United States and European officials were working on ways to curb Tehran's nuclear program after indirect U.S.-Iranian talks on reviving the historic 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States.

Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for an end to U.N., U.S., and EU sanctions. However, the US exit from the deal in 2018 impacted the accord. 

In May this year, Yoav Gallant, the defense minister of Israel, said that Iran could have enough enriched uranium to make nuclear weapons or bombs. In March, an official from the United States also said that Iran had the potential to make advanced nuclear bombs.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations intergovernmental organization, also expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear activities. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, slammed Iran for making unilateral changes at the Fordow nuclear plant.