Tehran – Iran shows that American inspectors working for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) may allow them to monitor the nuclear program.
The statement came from Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), during a press conference on Wednesday.
Eslami stressed that Iran historically rejected inspectors from hostile countries, including the United States, but that the current diplomatic landscape could lead to policy changes. “We will reconsider accepting US inspectors through the IAEA if an agreement is reached and Iran’s demands are met,” he said.
Iran and the US held five rounds of indirect negotiations starting in early April to reach a deal that would limit Tehran’s nuclear activity in exchange for the end of sanctions. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi said the date and location of the sixth round of consultations have been discussed and spoke with reporters during his official visit to Oman.
The two sides have so far explained that the talks are largely constructive, but there remains a large disagreement, particularly over Iran’s uranium enrichment programme. Tehran has long argued that it is unnegotiable to cease enrichment and cites its right to peaceful nuclear technology under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). According to sources familiar with the discussion, the Iranian delegation reaffirmed this position in the first position in the current first round of negotiations.
However, the US position is not very consistent. American officials have been sending mixed signals in recent weeks, suggesting that sometimes the only red line is hampering nuclear-armed Iran, but at other moments demand a complete end to the dismantling and enrichment of major nuclear facilities.
In his remarks on Wednesday, Eslami reiterated Iran’s firm stance on uranium enrichment, calling it the “cornerstone” of the country’s nuclear industry. Compared to the electricity sector, he argued that other nuclear infrastructure would be pointless without the enrichment similar to the power plant. “Trading away the enrichment means dismantling the entire nuclear industry. This is the red line of Iran, and we clearly communicated this both in writing and verbally during negotiations,” he said.
He also warned that stopping enrichment would destroy Iran’s health system. There, one million patients rely on radioisotopes produced domestically for medical treatment each year. “The absence of 20% concentrated fuel in Tehran reactors will cause radioisotope production to halt,” he said. Research reactors, food safety systems and advanced manufacturing sectors will also face collapse, he added.
Also on Wednesday, Esmaeli Bakaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country does not show flexibility in its uranium enrichment programme. “Enrichment is an inseparable part of Iran’s nuclear industry and any proposal or initiative that contradicts this principle or undermines this right is unacceptable.”
The spokesman also dismissed media coverage outlines the potential terms of future deals, calling it “a variety of motivations and intents,” which he called “pure media speculation.”
“None of these claims can be confirmed,” he added.