Tehran: Iran said Sunday it would consider negotiations with the United States if the talks were confined to concerns about the militarisation of its nuclear programme.
In a statement posted on X, the country’s UN mission said: “If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-à-vis any potential militarisation of Iran’s nuclear programme, such discussions may be subject to consideration.”
A day earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had rejected talks with the US because he said they would be aimed at imposing restrictions on Iran’s missile programme and its influence in the region.
Khamenei’s remarks came a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to him seeking a new deal with Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear programme and replace the atomic deal he withdrew America from during his first term in office.
Khamenei said US demands would be both military and related to Iran’s regional influence. He said such talks would not solve problems between Iran and the West.
Trump’s overture comes as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weapons-grade levels — something only done by atomic-armed nations.
Tehran has long maintained its programme is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb. Tensions are high with the US over its sanctions and with Israel as a shaky ceasefire holds in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Iranian statement Sunday, while allowing for talks on concerns about militarization, stressed that Tehran would not negotiate away what it stresses is its peaceful nuclear programme.
“However, should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme to claim that what Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place,” Iran’s mission said.
AP
