Iran Denies Interim Nuclear Deal Talks with U.S., Reaffirms Enrichment Rights
Iran on Monday dismissed claims that it is discussing an interim agreement in its indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States. Speaking at a press briefing in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasized that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons, asserting that “if the U.S. goal is to maintain Iran’s nuclear program as peaceful, this can be achieved.”
However, Baqaei warned that attempts to strip Iran of its legitimate nuclear rights—such as low-level uranium enrichment—would undermine any progress in the talks. “If the aim is to deprive Iran of its basic rights like low-level uranium enrichment, we don’t believe such negotiations would succeed,” he stated.
He also firmly denied media reports suggesting that Iran might suspend uranium enrichment for three years as part of a potential deal with Washington. “No, there is absolutely nothing like this on the table,” he said.
Oman is currently acting as mediator between the two sides, with five rounds of indirect negotiations held so far—three of them in Muscat—focused on reviving a diplomatic framework after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Trump has since called for a “better” agreement and reiterated that Washington will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
