Iran has rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment, insisting the programme will continue despite mounting pressure and the threat of conflict.
Speaking at a forum in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country had paid a “heavy price” for pursuing what it describes as a peaceful nuclear programme. He argued that Iran’s insistence on enrichment stems from its refusal to accept external dictates, even under the threat of war.
His comments came two days after indirect talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman. Araghchi said he hoped negotiations with Washington would resume soon but stressed that Tehran’s red lines remain unchanged. He also warned that Iran would retaliate against US bases in the region if American forces attacked Iranian territory.
In excerpts from an interview aired by Al Jazeera and shared on his official Telegram channel, Araghchi reiterated that Iran’s missile programme was “never negotiable” during the Muscat talks, describing it as a core defence issue.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to press the ballistic missile issue during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington next week. Israel has long pushed for broader negotiations that include Iran’s missile capabilities and its support for regional allies.
Tensions were further underscored by a visit from Witkoff and senior US official Jared Kushner to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. The US Central Command confirmed the visit, while Witkoff said the carrier strike group was reinforcing President Trump’s strategy of “peace through strength”.
Despite the hardened rhetoric, Araghchi described the Oman talks as “a good start”, noting that while the discussions were indirect, there was a brief opportunity to exchange greetings with the American delegation. He cautioned, however, that rebuilding trust would take time and confirmed that further talks were expected soon.
Trump also characterised the talks as “very good” and said another round of negotiations would take place next week. At the same time, he signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran and approved new sanctions targeting shipping companies and vessels involved in Iranian oil exports.
Iran maintains significant trade ties with China, which accounts for more than a quarter of its foreign trade. World Trade Organization figures show Iran recorded $18 billion in imports and $14.5 billion in exports in 2024.
Araghchi reaffirmed that uranium enrichment remains Iran’s “inalienable right” but said Tehran was willing to reach an agreement that would reassure the international community. He stressed that diplomacy was the only viable path to resolving the nuclear dispute.
Iran has repeatedly rejected efforts to broaden negotiations beyond the nuclear file. Netanyahu, ahead of his meeting with Trump, said any deal must also restrict Iran’s missile programme and curb its support for allied groups across the region.
Araghchi criticised what he described as a “doctrine of domination”, accusing Israel of expanding its military capabilities while demanding disarmament from other countries in the Middle East.
The latest talks were the first since negotiations collapsed last year following Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran, which sparked a 12-day conflict during which US forces struck Iranian nuclear facilities. Araghchi warned that any renewed attack would prompt Iran to strike US bases in the region.
The diplomatic efforts are unfolding amid a major US military buildup and continued unrest in Iran following protests driven by economic hardship. Iranian authorities say 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, mostly security personnel and bystanders. However, rights groups dispute the figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency claims nearly 7,000 deaths, primarily protesters, with more than 11,000 additional cases under review and over 51,000 arrests recorded.
