Iran: No need to continue talks if US seeks zero enrichment
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has underlined as a “red line” the Islamic Republic’s right to enrich uranium, saying the finalization of an agreement with the United States on the country’s peaceful nuclear program is contingent upon observing such principles.
Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, cited Gharibabadi as making the remark in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday regarding the fourth round of Tehran’s indirect nuclear talks with Washington in Qatar at the weekend.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister was cited by Rezaei as saying that “principles and generalities” were discussed indirectly in the fourth round of negotiations, and the Islamic Republic reaffirmed its red lines in the talks.
“The deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs said that uranium enrichment is a red line for the Islamic Republic, and that no negotiations were held regarding regional issues or defense and missile power,” Rezaei said.
Gharibabadi said that the Iranian side also criticized “the contradictory positions of the Americans and their recent sanctions”, and reiterated that “reaching an agreement is conditional on observing Iran’s red lines; therefore, if the Americans are seeking zero enrichment, we do not see a need to continue negotiations,” according to Rezaei.
The deputy FM pointed to the importance and necessity of domestic uranium enrichment, saying, “Uranium enrichment is tied to the national pride of Iranians and we have paid dearly for access to this key technology, therefore it is a red line for the country and we will not back down from it,” Rezaei further said.
Pointing to the contradictory positions of American statesmen on the high-stakes talks, Rezaei quoted Iran’s deputy foreign minister as saying that “domestic US issues are not related to Iran, and we need uranium enrichment to meet many peaceful needs, including power plant needs such as the Tehran reactor.”
Gharibabadi had also censured the US administration for the latest rounds of sanctions on Tehran amid ongoing talks on its peaceful nuclear program, according to Rezaei.
In a statement released on Monday, the US Department of State designated three Iranian nationals and a company called Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, claiming that they were involved in dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons.
According to American officials, the sanctions freeze any assets that the targeted people and entity may have in the US and ban business dealings with them.
The new sanctions came a day after Iran and the US held the fourth round of indirect talks aimed at sealing a new accord on Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on Tehran.
Mediated by Oman, Iran and the US had held three rounds of talks in Muscat and the Italian capital of Rome on April 12, 19, and 26 to reach a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
Both parties have so far expressed satisfaction with the way the negotiations have been moving on, commending the talks as “positive” and “moving forward.”
