DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — On Thursday, senior Iranian officials rejected speculation regarding the possibility of a nuclear deal with the United States in the near future. They underscored that any agreement must entail the complete lifting of sanctions on Iran and the continuation of its nuclear program.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, stated in a post on X that "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides." He emphasized that achieving this outcome necessitates an agreement that completely terminates all sanctions and safeguards Iran's rights to its nuclear program, including the aspect of enrichment.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, voiced similar sentiments on X, recalling that previous U.S. presidents harbored "fantasies" about dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure. He further highlighted that Iran possesses robust defenses and has established "clear red lines" that should not be crossed. "Talks serve progress, interests, and dignity, not coercion or surrender," Shamkhani asserted.
These comments came a day after former President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from military action against Iran, granting the U.S. administration additional time to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran. The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not reply to a request for comments regarding Trump's statement.
Throughout his tenure, Trump has repeatedly threatened to initiate airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal is not successfully negotiated. In turn, Iranian officials have alleged their capacity to pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium if necessary, intensifying the tension between the nations.
Some Iranian hard-liners expressed sharper criticism toward Trump. Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, dismissed Trump's remarks regarding the dismantling of Iran's nuclear facilities as a mix of "illusion," "bluff," "delirium," and "confusion," indicating a strong belief in their nuclear program's legitimacy.
The dialogues between the U.S. and Iran aim to restrict Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for the alleviation of severe economic sanctions that have strained relations between the two countries for nearly half a century. Recently, the U.S. and Iran engaged in five rounds of discussions in Oman and Rome over the past few weeks. In the latest round of talks held the previous Friday, Omani mediator and Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi noted that while there had been "some but not conclusive progress," further negotiations would be necessary.
Trump's remarks occurred concurrently with statements from the head of the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency, who remarked that "the jury is still out" regarding the effectiveness of the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S. concerning Iran's rapid nuclear advancements. This week, officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency were present in Tehran, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conducted a state visit to Oman.
