Iran’s foreign minister: Uranium enrichment will not stop, with or without U.S. deal

Iran will continue to enrich uranium regardless of whether a new nuclear agreement is reached with the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday in a statement on social media platform X.

“In addressing the talks regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program, our U.S. interlocutors are naturally free to publicly state whatever they deem fit to ward off special interest groups—malign actors which set the agendas of at least previous administrations,” Araghchi wrote.

He emphasized that Iran would not negotiate in public, especially given what he described as a disconnect between U.S. officials’ public and private statements. “Iran can only control what we Iranians do,” he added.

Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and described uranium enrichment as a hard-earned, homegrown scientific achievement that came at significant national sacrifice.

“If the U.S. is interested in ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, a deal is within reach,” he wrote. “We are ready for a serious conversation to achieve a solution that will forever ensure that outcome. Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal.”

His comments followed remarks by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. president’s special envoy, who recently stated that Washington “will not allow Iran even 1% enrichment capacity.” Araghchi’s response made clear that Tehran considers enrichment non-negotiable, reinforcing its long-standing position in the ongoing nuclear discussions.

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