Iran: Nuclear deal ‘possible’ if Washington is realistic
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that reaching a nuclear agreement with the United States is possible if Washington does not make unrealistic demands.
“Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow’s negotiations with seriousness,” Araghchi said during a press conference in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“If the other side also demonstrates seriousness of intent (like Iran) and does not make unrealistic demands, reaching agreements is possible,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
Araghchi said Tehran will assess and decide on the path ahead of negotiations based on the approach of the US in the second stage of talks.
Peaceful solution
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on Friday that the US administration is looking for a peaceful solution with Iran but will never tolerate the Islamic Republic developing a nuclear weapon.
Araghchi and the US special envoy in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, are set to hold the second round of negotiations in Rome today a week after they held the highest-level talks in Oman since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.
Both sides described the first round of talks as “positive and constructive”, which are aimed at reaching a diplomatic agreement surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.
But on Tuesday, Witkoff said Iran must “stop and eliminate” its enrichment of uranium as part of any nuclear deal. He had previously demanded only that Iran return to the 3.67 percent enrichment ceiling set by the 2015 accord between Iran and major powers that Trump withdrew from.
In response, Araghchi said on Wednesday that Iran’s enrichment of uranium is “non-negotiable.”
Trump’s threats
The US president, who has repeatedly threatened strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilitates if no deal is reached, said on Thursday that he was in no hurry to launch an attack on Iran after a New York Times report that said he had waved off an Israeli attack.
“I wouldn’t say waved off. I am not in a rush to do it because I think Iran has a chance to have a great country.”
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump said, “Iran has a chance to have a great country, and to live happily without death, and I’d like to see that. That’s my first option.”
“If there’s a second option,” he went on, “I think it would be very bad for Iran, and I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they’re wanting to talk. It’s going to be very good for them if they do. Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s pretty simple.”
Leader’s letter for Putin
Iran’s foreign minister, who had traveled to Moscow at the head of a diplomatic delegation for consultations with high-ranking Russian officials, submitted a written message of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The minister presented the Leader’s message to the president of Russia and explained the views and positions of the Islamic Republic regarding issues on the agenda of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international developments.