“What is quite clear and perhaps does not need to be emphasized is that enrichment is an integral part of Iran's peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear industry must be maintained, and we will not make the slightest concession in this regard,” ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said during his weekly presser.
His comments come as Iran continues to defend its uranium enrichment rights in ongoing nuclear talks with the United States, while Washington has repeatedly stressed that Tehran must stop enriching uranium.
Baghaei said that Oman, which is mediating the talks, “will take this red line into account.”
He added that if the US welcomes negotiations based on goodwill,” we too can say we are optimistic, “ but any attempt to deny the country its legitimate nuclear rights would render the talks ineffective.
“If the US aims to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program does not shift toward military purposes, this can easily be achieved,” he stated.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday described the latest negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program as "very, very good."
Iran struck a positive tone regarding the latest round of nuclear talks held Friday, though Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, the mediator, said the discussions concluded without “conclusive progress.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to visit Oman on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the negotiations, according to Baghaei.
Speaking on Monday, Pezeshkian said that Tehran is capable of finding ways to deal with problems even without negotiations.
“It’s not like we will die of hunger if they [Americans] do not want to negotiate with US,” Pezeshkian said, as cited by the state IRNA news agency. “There are hundreds of ways to overcome the problems.”
Regarding the rumors about a possible interim agreement, Baghaei stated, “An interim agreement has never been on our agenda, and accordingly, it has not been raised in this round of talks.”
Washington’s negotiator, Steve Witkoff, has said that Iran must agree to zero uranium enrichment, stressing that the US “could not authorize even one percent” enrichment by Tehran.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi said the talks will fail if the US sticks to its demands.
Tehran has repeatedly asserted that atomic weapons go against the Islamic republic’s doctrine and has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Indirect, Oman-mediated talks between Tehran and Washington resumed on April 12, with the fifth and most recent round held on May 23.
The revived talks mark the most substantial engagement between the two sides since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
In 2018, President Trump, during his first term in office, withdrew the US from the agreement and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran gradually scaled back its compliance with the deal
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
