Iran’s foreign minister says that enriching civilians cannot be applied to any transaction in order for Tehran and Washington to begin meetings.
Tehran, Iran – Iran emphasized its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes as an Iranian delegation led by a foreign minister reached Muscat, Oman’s capital, for fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States.
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci told state media on Sunday that the Iranian state has a legal right to private enrichment that cannot do any transaction.
The Landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump retreated during his first term, allowed Iran to pursue civilian nuclear activities, but it also limited enrichment to prevent Tehran from creating nuclear bombs.
“Enrichment is one of the achievements and honors of the Iranian state. We paid a large price for enrichment. The blood of our nuclear scientists spilled out because of this achievement,” he said in relation to Scientist assassinated by Israel For many years.
However, Araghchi said he is still committed to providing verifiable assurances that Tehran cannot develop nuclear bombs.
Araguchi visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar and met with senior officials to coordinate preparations for the latest nuclear talk.
In Oman’s capital on Sunday, the Iranian top diplomat is being held “indirectly” through Omani mediation, accompanied by his agent and other members of the team that Iran is still tasked with technical consultations.
Tehran also repeatedly expressed concern over the “contradictory” comments made in the media by US negotiators led by Trump’s longtime friend and envoy Steve Witkov.
With its introduction into the Muscat talks on Sunday, Witkov once again called for the complete “dismantling” of Iran’s nuclear program, including major sites in Natanz, Fordau and Isfahan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials have suggested that Iran must import rich uranium.
The fourth round of consultations was scheduled for early May, but Oman had to be postponed, citing “logistical reasons.”
The delay came amid a series of massive fires in several Iranian cities, including a result of an explosion in the port city of Bandar Abbas, which killed several people and injured more than 1,200 people after the US failed to confirm participation.
Trump fired Mike Waltz, the Iranian Hawk national security adviser this month, when Waltz reportedly coordinated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to defend the war with Iran.
Trump, his team, Israel repeatedly threatened to launch a catastrophic military strike against Iran and its infrastructure if the speech failed to produce immediate results.
Meanwhile, the US continues to stack sanctions against Iran on Thursday, with the Treasury Ministry blacklisting Chinese chemical groups and three port terminal operators in order to target Iran’s oil exports.
In pushing for “maximum pressure” on Iran, the US has also pledged to drive Iran’s oil exports to “zero” as Tehran continues to ship oil primarily to China despite sanctions.
Trump launched a sanctions campaign in 2018 after unilaterally reciting a 2015 nuclear deal in which verifiable and strict restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities to lift the country’s sanctions.
Accord limited Iranian uranium enrichment to 3.67% using first-generation centrifuges at limited sites, but with time limits and sunset clauses that Trump claimed to be “the worst deal ever.”
Iran is currently enriching up to 60%, close to more than 90% needed to build nuclear bombs, but the International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran has not made an effort to produce weapons.
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