Iran‘s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has stated that Tehran cannot abandon its uranium enrichment program, despite severe damage caused by recent US and Israeli air strikes. In an interview with Fox News, Araghchi emphasized that the program is not only an achievement of Iranian scientists but also a matter of national pride. “It is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, and now, more than that, it is a question of national pride,” he said.
Araghchi’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US, with the latter having pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. The JCPOA, signed in 2015, allowed Iran to open its nuclear sites to international inspection in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, the US withdrawal, led by then-President Donald Trump, was prompted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations of Iran pursuing a secret nuclear program, which Iran has consistently denied.
Araghchi indicated that Iran is open to talks with the US, but direct negotiations are not currently feasible. “If they [the US] are coming for a win-win solution, I am ready to engage with them,” he stated. Iran is willing to take confidence-building measures to prove its nuclear program is peaceful and expects the US to lift its sanctions in return. “We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, and Iran would never go for nuclear weapons, and in return, we expect them to lift their sanctions,” the foreign minister added.
The US and Iran had engaged in talks earlier this year, but they broke down after Israel launched surprise bombing raids on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. The attacks significantly set back Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Pentagon, which claimed a one-to-two-year delay. Araghchi confirmed that Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation is still assessing the damage and will soon inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its findings.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran has not ceased cooperation with the IAEA but will carefully consider any request for inspectors. IAEA inspectors left Iran after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending cooperation with the agency, following a June 12 resolution accusing Tehran of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations.
Meanwhile, Iran is set to hold nuclear talks with France, Germany, and the UK in Türkiye on Friday. The European parties to the JCPOA have warned that failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran. The UN welcomed the renewed dialogue between Europeans and Iranians, with UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating that the organization supports any efforts towards a negotiated solution.