Iran Rejects U.S. Call to Stop Uranium Enrichment

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States are unlikely to make progress if Washington continues to demand that Tehran completely halt its uranium enrichment activities, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi, as reported by state media on Monday.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reaffirmed Washington’s position on Sunday, stating that any new agreement must include a commitment from Iran to cease enrichment, which poses a potential risk for developing nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear energy program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Takhtravanchi emphasized, “Our stance on enrichment is clear. It is a national achievement that we will not compromise.”

During a recent visit to the Gulf region, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that a deal was imminent, urging Iran to act swiftly to resolve the longstanding conflict.

However, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson criticized Washington for complicating the negotiations by making public statements that conflict with private discussions. Esmail Baghaei remarked, “Despite the contradictory statements from the Americans, we are still engaged in the negotiations.”

A fifth round of talks is anticipated to take place in Rome this weekend, pending confirmation from an Iranian official, as reported by Reuters.

During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 agreement that imposed strict limits on Iran’s enrichment activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions. He labeled the accord as disproportionately favorable to Iran and subsequently reinstated extensive U.S. sanctions, prompting Iran to escalate its enrichment activities.