Iran said on Sunday that it would consider nuclear talks with the United States, but only when it was related to the program’s “potential militancy” concerns rather than a complete shutdown.
Insisting on US President Donald Trump’s military action, insisting on talks, the country’s Supreme Leader described as a “bullying” strategy, a post on the UN’s mission for the United Nations on X.
The post states, “If the purpose of the negotiation is to address any possible militancy in Iran’s nuclear program, such debates can be considered.”
“However, should the purpose be aimed at ending Iran’s peaceful nuclear program that Obama has failed to achieve now, such talks will never take place?”
The post was referring to a nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under the then US President Barack Obama in 2015, beaten between Tehran and major powers. The deal offered to get rid of sanctions on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Trump abandoned it during his first term in 2018 and imposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran obeyed a year’s terms before leaving its promises. After that it has rapidly enhanced the enrichment of uranium far beyond the limits set by the JCPOA.
US officials have now estimated that if Iran chose to do so, Iran can produce nuclear weapons within weeks.
On Friday, Trump said he had written to Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and called for new talks on the country’s nuclear program, but if it was denied, a warning of possible military action.
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran had not yet received any letter from the US president till Saturday.
Khamenei told officials on Saturday after Trump’s threat, “Some bullying governments – I really don’t know about any appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders – insist on the conversation.” He added, “The purpose of their talks is not to solve the problems, their purpose is dominion.”
Tehran, in recent months, has been engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European parties – Britain, France and Germany – aimed at solving issues related to its nuclear ambitions.
