Iran reiterates its willingness to negotiate with the US “the level and type of enrichment” of uranium

“On the level and type of enrichment (of uranium), Iran has always said that it is a negotiable matter, within the framework of the country’s needs,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, who insisted that “Iran’s inalienable rights, including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, are an inherent right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and cannot be denied.”

Thus, he stated at a press conference that “even the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – in reference to Rafael Grossi – has emphasized that the claims that Iran is weeks or months away from acquiring nuclear weapons are not true,” according to the Iranian news agency Mehr.

Baqaei has accused the United States of raising “concerns” about Iran’s nuclear program to have “an excuse to exert pressure.” “These contradictions are serious and unjustifiable not only for Iranian public opinion, but for the international community,” said Baqaei, who stressed that “the Iranian nuclear program has been confirmed repeatedly by the IAEA, not only as a political position, but as a fact.”

In this sense, he has maintained that contacts with the United States “have not yet reached the decision-making stage”, while explaining that “in any understanding, including one on the nuclear issue, there are several components and multiple options.”

“Due to the failure of the United States to fulfill its commitments in the diplomatic processes and even the fact that military actions have been carried out, many previous understandings were abandoned,” explained Baqaei, who has argued that “it remains to be seen if the negotiations continue and what option can finally be the basis of an agreement.”

Baqaei’s words come after the United States has demanded that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment work for 20 years in order to reach a peace agreement, at a time when the parties are immersed in efforts to hold a second round of talks after the unsuccessful contacts on Saturday in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

“The United States has suggested a minimum of 20 years (for the suspension of these uranium enrichment works), with all types of restrictions,” explained sources familiar with the proposal in statements given to Europa Press, thus rejecting the possibility that the United States could agree in exchange for a withdrawal of sanctions, a demand from Iran, which defends its right to carry out this work in line with the NPT.

The negotiations held in Pakistan between Iran and the United States, which ended without an agreement, took place just a few days after both countries agreed on a 15-day ceasefire on April 8 to try to achieve an agreement to end the aforementioned offensive, launched in the midst of negotiations between Tehran and Washington to seek a new nuclear agreement, after the North American country unilaterally abandoned the one signed three years earlier in 2018.