Iran is not yet ready for a new round of face-to-face talks with American officials. The reason for this is Washington’s reluctance to abandon “maximalist” demands on key issues.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said this in an interview with Associated Press on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Turkey. He also stressed that Tehran would not transfer its enriched uranium to the United States, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s statements on the matter.
“I can say that no enriched material will be sent to the United States. This is unrealistic, and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we have, we are not going to agree to things that are unrealistic,” Khatibzadeh said.
On April 17, Trump said that the US would enter Iran and “take away all the nuclear dust,” referring to the 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear facilities that were severely damaged by US military strikes. last year.
Khatibzadeh noted that there had already been many exchanges of messages between the parties, but accused Washington of continuing to insist on demands that Tehran considers excessive.
“We are not yet ready for a real meeting, because there are issues on which the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,” the deputy foreign minister stressed, adding that Iran seeks to complete a “framework agreement” before meeting in person.
He did not disclose details of the negotiations with the United States or specify which issues remain unresolved, but urged Washington to take into account Iran’s concerns, in particular regarding sanctions imposed against country.
“Other parties must also understand and take into account our fundamental concerns, which concern the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the Americans against the Iranians and the economic terrorism directed against the Iranian people with the aim of stifling them and inciting them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran,” – explained Khatibzadeh.
He also announced that within the framework of negotiations with the US, a “new protocol” would be introduced for the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that this waterway “will remain open and safe for all civilian proceedings.”
When asked whether Iran will respond to Israel’s renewed attacks on Lebanon, despite the ceasefire reached between them, Khatibzadeh replied that Tehran has no other choice “but to stop the aggressors once and for all.”
