Iran Warns Nuclear Talks Doomed if U.S. Demands Zero Enrichment

DUBAI (The News Pulse) — According to reports from state-run media on Monday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi stated that nuclear discussions between Iran and the U.S. will not reach a conclusion if Washington demands that Tehran completely halt all activities related to uranium enrichment.

The US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff restated America’s position on Sunday, emphasizing that any renewed accord between the US and Iran should incorporate a commitment to abstain from enrichment activities, which could potentially lead to the creation of nuclear weapons. However, Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful ends.

"Clearly, our stance on enrichment is firm, and we've often emphasized that this is a national accomplishment from which we won't retreat," Takhtravanchi stated.

Last week, during his trip to the Gulf area, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that an agreement was nearly within reach; however, he emphasized that Iran must act swiftly to settle the long-standing conflict.

On Monday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman stated that Washington is hindering discussions by publicly voicing opinions at odds with those expressed privately during negotiations.

Esmail Baghaei also stated, 'Even though we have encountered conflicting remarks from the Americans, we continue to engage in talks.'

An Iranian official informed The News Pulse that a fifth round of discussions is anticipated to occur in Rome over the weekend, subject to final confirmation.

In his initial tenure from 2017 to 2021, President Trump removed the U.S. from an agreement made in 2015 with global powers which aimed to impose tight constraints on Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts in return for easing of worldwide economic embargoes.

Trump, who labeled the 2015 agreement as being biased towards Iran, reinstated extensive economic penalties against the country. In response, Iran increased its uranium enrichment activities.

(Reported by Parisa Hafezi; edited by Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich)