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FM rules out possibility of nuclear talks with US ‘for now’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is no possibility of resumption of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington at present due to the lack of “constructive approach from the American side” toward the negotiations.
“The reality is that there is no possibility for now, because we do not see any positive or constructive approach from the American side,” Araghchi told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
“Whenever they are ready for negotiations based on an equal footing, aimed at reaching a mutually beneficial agreement, such talks could be possible, and Iran could consider them. But the approach we see from the Americans does not indicate such a willingness.”
Iran and the US held five rounds of Oman-mediated indirect negotiations in the Italian and Omani capitals early this year before Israel derailed the diplomatic efforts by waging a war in June.
More than a week into the war, the US joined the aggression and bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities that were under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s watch. The US attacks damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
The US-Israeli strikes also claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people Iran, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
Since then, the two sides have repeatedly expressed their interest to resume the negotiations but the US excessive demands, including zero uranium enrichment in Iran and limits on its range of missile, have become a barrier in resumption of negotiations.
Iran has repeatedly said it will not give up its right to uranium enrichment and will not negotiate on its defense capabilities. Iran’s nuclear program has been a source of contention with Western countries for more than two decades. While Iran insists that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and aimed at civilian purposes such as energy production and medical research, Western powers — particularly the US, UK, France, and Germany — have long expressed concern that Tehran could be seeking the capability to develop nuclear weapons.