Iran says nuclear talks will fail if US pushes for zero enrichment

Nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. hit a deadlock as Tehran rejects demands to stop uranium enrichment, insisting its program is peaceful. The U.S. says any deal must prevent nuclear weapons development.

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States will be futile if Washington continues to demand a complete halt to Tehran’s uranium enrichment, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi said Monday, according to state media.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff reaffirmed on Sunday that any new agreement must require Iran to cease all uranium enrichment, which is viewed as a potential route to developing nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

“Our stance on enrichment is well-known and firm — we consider it a national achievement and will not abandon it,” Takhtravanchi emphasized.

Last week, during a visit to the Gulf, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a new deal with Iran was “very close,” but urged Tehran to act swiftly.

In his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal, which had imposed tight restrictions on Iran’s enrichment activities in return for sanctions relief. He criticized the agreement as being overly favorable to Iran and subsequently reinstated broad U.S. sanctions, prompting Tehran to ramp up its enrichment efforts.

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