The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained that his country is not currently enriching uranium due to the US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities in June. He said Tehran remained open to talks with Washington if the US dropped its “maximalist demands.”
“There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran. All of our facilities are under the safeguards and monitoring” of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said on Sunday. “There is no enrichment right now because our facilities — our enrichment facilities — have been attacked.”
He added that Tehran retains the right to have a nuclear enrichment program. While an enrichment program would be needed to build a nuclear weapon, the IAEA has continued to affirm that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program has been limited to civilian programs. Tehran has only enriched Uranium to 60%, well short of the level necessary to build a nuclear weapon.
Still, US and Israeli leaders have repeatedly warned that Iran is on the brink of obtaining a nuclear weapon. In June, Washington and Tel Aviv claimed Tehran was within weeks of building a nuclear weapon, then launched an aggressive war against Iran. During the so-called 12 Day War, American and Israeli warplanes pummeled Iranian nuclear sites.
After a ceasefire was implemented, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to restart the war if the Islamic Republic rebuilds its nuclear enrichment facilities.
Trump has additionally demanded that Iran return to nuclear negotiations that were derailed by the war. Tehran says it will not return to talks under threat and that Washington must give up its demand that Iran agree to give up its nuclear enrichment capabilities.
“The current approach of the US government in no way shows readiness for an equal and fair negotiation to secure mutual interests,” said Araghchi, adding that Washington must drop its “maximalist demands.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister explained Tehran is willing to restart nuclear talks with Washington as long as it is treated with “dignity and respect.”
