Araqchi told state television after the visit To Iran Made by a manager International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi: “There is still an opportunity for diplomacy, although this opportunity is not very large. There is a limited opportunity.”
Grossi visited two nuclear sites in Iran on Friday, ahead of an expected European diplomatic effort regarding… Nuclear activities To Tehran before returning Donald Trump To the White House.
During the visit, Araqchi told Grossi that Tehran is ready to resolve outstanding disputes over its nuclear program, but will not give in to pressure.
Official media reported that Grossi visited the Natanz nuclear plant and the Fordow enrichment site dug into a mountain about 100 kilometers south of the capital, Tehran, but did not go into further details.
Relations between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency are tense due to a number of long-pending issues, including Iran preventing the agency’s uranium enrichment experts from entering the country and failing to explain the reasons for the presence of traces of uranium in undeclared sites.
Foreign Minister Araqchi wrote on X Following talks in Tehran with Grossi on Thursday, “the ball is now in the court of the European Union – the European Troika,” referring to the European trio of France, Germany and Britain that represents the West alongside the United States in the Nuclear talks.
Araqchi said, “We are ready to negotiate on the basis of our national interest and our rights that cannot be waived, but we are not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation.”
Trump’s return to the position of President of the United States in January complicates diplomatic negotiations on the nuclear issue with Iran, which were halted during the outgoing Joe Biden administration after months of indirect talks.
During Trump’s previous term, the United States withdrew from the agreement concluded in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, which restricted Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the cancellation of international sanctions.
It is not yet clear whether Trump will continue the policy of applying “maximum pressure” on Iran when he takes office.
Motivated by the United States’ withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018 and the reimposition of sanctions on Iran, Tehran has moved to violate restrictions on its program. To enrich uraniumThis is what the West considers an attempt by Iran to cover up the development of its ability to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Tehran is currently enriching uranium to a purity of up to 60 percent, which is close to the 90 percent required for manufacturing. atomic bomb.
Tehran says its nuclear program is intended for purely peaceful purposes.
