TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut on Sunday warned that unrealistic expectations could derail indirect negotiations with the US, stressing that uranium enrichment is an unnegotiable right of the Iranian people.
Speaking to reporters on the first day of the Tehran Dialogue Forum, Araguchi said: “We continue to have discussions with Europe. The more we build, the better mutual understanding we will build, and Europe wants to do that.
He emphasized that uranium enrichment in Iran cannot be stopped. “It’s a legitimate right and a major scientific achievement for the Iranian state. It had high costs, including the lives of nuclear scientists. No one can expect us to abandon it.”
“Negotiations that do not accept this principle are destined to fail,” he added. “However, if Iran is aiming to prevent it from pursuing nuclear weapons, that goal is perfectly achievable.”
Araguchi’s comments come amid growing diplomatic friction over nuclear negotiations. Steve Witkov, a US special envoy to West Asia under the Trump administration, recently said, “We cannot allow Iran to even enrich 1% of domestic uranium. We have sent an official written proposal without trying to be rude to them.”
He further emphasized, “From our perspective, the agreement should include Iran’s zero uranium enrichment – this is a clear red line for the Trump administration.”
Iran has held four rounds of indirect talks with the US on the issue of a peaceful nuclear program, with both sides describing Omani’s mediation negotiations as positive.