Iranian foreign minister asserts civilian enrichment cannot be negotiated under any agreement as Tehran and Washington prepare to sit down for talks. Tehran, Iran – Iran has reiterated its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes as an Iranian delegation headed by the foreign minister arrived in the Omani capital, Muscat, to participate in a fourth round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed state media on Sunday that the Iranian nation holds a legal right to civilian enrichment that cannot be made subject to any agreement. The historic 2015 Iran nuclear accord, from which US President Donald Trump pulled out in his first term, permitted Iran to continue its civilian nuclear programme but imposed limits on enrichment to ensure that Tehran cannot produce a nuclear bomb.
“Enrichment is one of the Iranians’ achievements and distinctions. We’ve paid dearly for enrichment. We’ve paid for this achievement in the blood of our nuclear scientists who were martyred at the hands of Israelis throughout all these years,” he said while addressing scientists murdered by Israel.
But Tehran is still committed to giving Iran convincing guarantees that it will not be capable of producing a nuclear bomb – Trump’s principal requirement. Araghchi travelled to Saudi Arabia and Qatar and met top officials to coordinate ahead of the recent nuclear negotiations.
In the Omani capital over the weekend, Iran’s foreign minister was flanked by his deputy and other members of the team assigned to technical negotiations that Iran continues to insist are conducted “indirectly” through an Omani intermediary.
Tehran has also complained repeatedly about “inconsistent” statements made to the media by US negotiators under the leadership of Trump friend and envoy Steve Witkoff. Ahead of the Muscat talks on Sunday, Witkoff once more urged the total “dismantling” of Iran’s nuclear programme, including principal facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials have intimated that Iran will need to import enriched uranium.
