The story: Reports of a damning letter having been sent by former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is stirring controversy in Iran. In the letter, the hardline politician is claimed to have stated his opposition to the current approach to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He is also alleged to have called for a withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord. While Jalili has refrained from denying the reports, supporters of conservative President Ebrahim Raisi have kept quiet. This comes as a senior Iranian MP has stated that conditions are ripe for a “win-win deal” to restore the JCPOA.

The coverage: In his alleged letter, Jalili urged Khamenei to increase the level of uranium enrichment up to 90% purity, and then enter direct talks with the US on the lifting of sanctions. The highest level of enrichment taking place in Iran at present is 60%...