Recent negotiations with U.S. diplomats made little headway in changing Iran’s stance on ending its nuclear weapons program, Iranian officials said on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi, who led discussions in Oman last month, dismissed any chance of Iran halting its uranium enrichment. This step is seen as crucial for any potential agreement that could lift sanctions associated with terrorism. Iran argues that its uranium enrichment is part of a “peaceful” nuclear program, believing it has the “right” to produce highly enriched uranium. However, U.S. officials contend that a peaceful nuclear power doesn’t require enrichment at the levels Iran pursues.
Nonetheless, Araguchi maintained that Iran would not compromise on its nuclear rights, describing them as essential to the Iranian people. He asserted, “This isn’t just about negotiations or media coverage. It’s a fundamental right that no one can deny.”
He echoed similar sentiments last week before engaging with the U.S. delegation. “Enrichment is an achievement and a source of pride, achieved at great costs. It’s simply non-negotiable,” he emphasized.
According to Araguchi, while there might be room for temporary restrictions related to trust-building, the right to maintain enrichment remains off the table.
His insistence on continuing enrichment appeared to be a reaction to comments from a Trump administration official who stated there would be no acceptance of an agreement that didn’t fully address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The official had previously stated that any proposal without dismantling Iran’s enrichment facilities, such as Natanz, would be viewed unfavorably.
Araguchi’s comments may have been influenced by discussions surrounding the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was rolled back by the Trump administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reiterated demands that tethered any lifting of sanctions to Iran’s actions in support of terror and its missile program, insisting that enrichment activities need to fall away.
The Iranian approach, as stated by its officials, has primarily revolved around lifting sanctions. While the details of discussions were sparse, the end result has seen the U.S. impose additional sanctions rather than ease them. Recently, new sanctions targeted companies allegedly engaged in the concealment of Iranian oil origins, with similar sanctions for the oil sector being enacted the day prior.
President Trump also expressed a desire for an agreement with Iran but stressed that any potential deal would require halting its support for terrorism and nuclear weapon pursuits. “They simply cannot possess nuclear weapons,” he declared.
On that same day, Iranian officials claimed they might consider “temporary” limits on enrichment, mirroring proposals from the JCPOA, though the White House quickly indicated this would not fly.
