Iran says 'examining' details for potential nuclear talks, insists on right to enrichment

AFP , Saturday 12 Jul 2025

Iran said Saturday it was reviewing the conditions for a potential resumption of nuclear talks with the United States but made clear its insistence that any agreement must respect its right to uranium enrichment.

File Photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AP

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s lead negotiator, said Tehran is “examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires” ahead of possible talks, reaffirming the country’s firm stance on nuclear enrichment, a major sticking point in negotiations.

He told diplomats in Tehran: “I would like to emphasize that in any negotiated solution, the rights of the Iranian people on the nuclear issue, including the right to enrichment, must be respected. We will not have any agreement in which enrichment is not included.”

The United States and its close ally Israel have consistently rejected Iran’s uranium enrichment and demanded the complete dismantling of its nuclear programme over fears it could lead to nuclear weapons. Israel itself possesses a nuclear arsenal but maintains a long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying its capabilities.

While Tehran expressed willingness to engage in diplomacy, it stressed that talks must be genuine.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains ready to build this confidence through diplomacy but, before that, our counterparts must convince us that they want diplomacy and not that diplomacy is a cover for other goals and objectives they have,” Araghchi told diplomats in the Iranian capital.

“Our cooperation with the agency has not stopped, but will take on a new form,” said Araghchi, adding that requests to monitor nuclear sites “will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis... taking into account safety and security issues.”

A clause in the 2015 nuclear agreement allows for reimposing UN sanctions if Tehran breaches the deal. Araghchi warned on Saturday that a so-called snapback of UN sanctions “would signify the end of Europe’s role in the Iranian nuclear dossier.”

The comments come weeks after Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities disrupted talks that began in April. The attacks prompted Iranian retaliation on Israel.

The ensuing 12-day air war left more than 1,060 dead in Iran and 28 dead in Israel.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.