Latest news with #Aragchi
Business Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Iran, US nuclear talks end in Oman, next round to be announced
[DUBAI] Fresh talks between Iranian and US negotiators to resolve disputes over Tehran's nuclear programme ended in Oman on Sunday (May 11) with further negotiations planned, officials said, as Tehran insisted in public on continuing uranium enrichment. Though Tehran and Washington both have said they prefer diplomacy to resolve the decades-long nuclear dispute, they remain deeply divided on several red lines that negotiators will have to circumvent to reach a new nuclear deal and avert future military action. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held the fourth round of talks in Muscat through Omani mediators, despite Washington taking a tough stance in public that Iranian officials said would not help the negotiations. Aragchi said the talks were 'more serious and more straightforward compared to the previous three rounds'. 'We now understand each other better and hope to make further progress moving forward... Iran's uranium enrichment must continue, although its scope and level may change,' Aragchi told state TV. A senior official from President Donald Trump's administration said Sunday's 'direct and indirect' discussions lasted more than three hours. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'We are encouraged by today's outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future,' the official said. On Thursday, Witkoff told Breitbart News that Washington's red line is: 'No enrichment. That means dismantlement, no weaponisation,' requiring the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X that the Iran-US talks included 'useful and original' ideas reflecting a shared wish to reach an 'honourable' agreement. The next round of talks will be held once both parties have consulted their leaderships, he said. Trump's Middle East visit The fourth round of talks took place ahead of Trump's Middle East visit. Trump, who has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails, has restored a 'maximum pressure' campaign on Tehran since returning to the White House in January. Reacting to Witkoff's comments, Aragchi said on Sunday that Iran would not compromise on its nuclear rights, which include uranium enrichment. Tehran is willing to negotiate some curbs on its nuclear work in return for the lifting of sanctions, according to Iranian officials, but ending its enrichment programme or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile are among 'Iran's red lines that could not be compromised' in the talks. A senior Iranian official close to the negotiating team said that US demands for 'zero enrichment and dismantling Iran's nuclear sites would not help in progressing the negotiations'. 'What the US says publicly differs from what is said in negotiations,' the official said, on condition of anonymity. Moreover, Iran has flatly ruled out negotiating its ballistic missile programme and the clerical establishment demands watertight guarantees Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact. Trump exited Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers in 2018 during his first term and reimposed tough sanctions that have devastated Iran's economy. Iran, which has long said its nuclear programme is peaceful, has breached the 2015 pact's nuclear curbs since 2019, including 'dramatically' accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60 per cent purity, close to the roughly 90 per cent level that is weapons-grade, according to the UN nuclear watchdog. REUTERS
Leaders
20-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
US-Iran Talks: Parties Agree on Technical Discussions, 3rd Round Next Week
The US and Iran on Saturday concluded the second round of nuclear talks in Rome, with both sides saying they made progress, reported Reuters. Officials from both countries agreed to hold technical-level talks on Wednesday in Oman to discuss the details of a possible deal, before a third round scheduled next Saturday in the Gulf country. Rome Talks On Saturday, the US and Iran held the second round of talks on Tehran's nuclear ambitions in Rome, Italy. The negotiations between the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, and the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, lasted for four hours, with Oman's Foreign Minister acting as a mediator to convey messages between the two negotiating teams. After the meeting, Aragchi said that the talks were conducted in a 'relatively positive atmosphere,' adding that they enabled 'progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal.' Similarly, an American official said that the discussions have achieved some progress. 'Today, in Rome over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions,' the official said, according to Reuters. Technical Talks Both countries agreed to hold technical-level talks on Wednesday to develop a framework for a potential nuclear agreement. 'The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details. After that, we will be in a better position to judge,' Aragchi wrote on X, signaling that the JCPOA signed in 2015 is 'no longer good enough' for Iran. 'For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution,' he added. After the technical talks, negotiators will meet again on Saturday in Oman to 'review the experts' work and assess how closely it aligns with the principles of a potential agreement,' Aragchi told Iran's state TV. In the same context, the Spokesperson of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, confirmed the technical-level talks. 'The two sides agreed to continue the indirect talks in [a] few days at [a] technical level to be followed by another round at their own level on coming Saturday,' he posted on X. Positive Signs The Omani Foreign Ministry confirmed the third round of the US-Iran talks will take place next Saturday in Muscat. Moreover, Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who acted as a mediator in the talks, commended the outcomes of the second round, saying that 'these talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible.' In another positive sign, the Carnegie Endowment has invited Aragchi to deliver a speech as a keynote speaker at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, set to kick off on Monday in Washington. 'On Monday, the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference will kick off by taking on one of the most pressing nuclear issues of our time. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will join the conference for a virtual keynote conversation, moderated by The Economist's Steve Coll, days after the U.S. and Iran wrap up a second round of nuclear talks,' the global think tank posted on X. Iran's Nuclear Program The talks aim to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief, amid fears that Tehran is pursuing a nuclear weapon. The US, Israel, and Western countries fear that Iran is close to acquiring an atomic bomb by accelerating its uranium enrichment to 60% purity, close to the 90%-weapon-grade level. In the light of this, Witkoff suggested that the potential agreement would limit Iran's uranium enrichment level at 3.67%. 'They do not need to enrich past 3.67%. In some circumstances, they're at 60%, in other circumstances, 20%. That cannot be,' he told Fox News on Monday. 'This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization. That includes missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb,' he added. Meanwhile, the US President, Donald Trump, has repeatedly threatened Tehran of military action if negotiations failed. 'I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific,' he told reporters on Friday. Tehran's Red Lines Iran has ruled out negotiations over its defense capabilities, including its missile program. It has also asked for reliable guarantees that the US will not ditch the agreement as Trump did in 2018. The country also identified other red lines regarding the potential deal. According to an Iranian official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, Iran will never agree to dismantle its uranium enriching centrifuges, halt enrichment altogether, or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below levels agreed in the 2015 deal. Furthermore, the political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Shamkhani, said before the second round of talks that Tehran seeks a deal based on 9 principles, including seriousness, guarantees, lifting sanctions, halting threats, containing aggressors (such as Israel), and facilitating investments. 'Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not a surrender,' he wrote on X. Short link : Post Views: 1
Leaders
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
US-Iran Talks: 2nd Round to Kick Off in Rome
The second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran is set to start on Saturday in Rome, Italy, to negotiate over Tehran's atomic ambitions. The talks follow a first round in Muscat, Oman, which both sides described as 'positive' and 'constructive,' amid the US President Donald Trump's reiteration that he will never allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. Indirect Talks in Rome The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, has arrived in Rome to participate in the second round of talks, according to a post on his Telegram account. Aragchi is leading Iran's delegation in the negotiations with the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Negotiations will take the form of indirect discussions through mediators from Oman, reported Reuters. Iran's Cautious Optimism On Friday, Aragchi said that Tehran believes that reaching a deal with Washington is 'possible' as long as the US is realistic. Moreover, the Spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, on Saturday emphasized that Iran is committed to diplomacy. 'Iran always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues. We are aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences,' he wrote on X. However, Iran tried to lower expectations of a quick agreement, amid speculations that the US would lift sanctions soon. In the light of this, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, played down expectations of a breakthrough in the talks. He said this week that he was 'neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic.' Trump's Threats Trump has repeatedly vowed that the will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, threatening Tehran of military action if diplomacy failed. 'I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific,' he told reporters on Friday. The US President has warned Iran that it would be 'in real danger' in case the talks failed. 'If it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. They'll be the leader of that,' Trump threatened earlier. Furthermore, Washington has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its striking group to the Gulf of Oman ahead of Rome talks, to support the USS Harry Truman, which has been launching strikes against the Houthis as part of the US campaign against the Iranian-backed militia in Yemen. Curbing Iran's Nuclear Ambitions The US wants Iran to abandon its nuclear program, fearing that Tehran is pursuing an atomic bomb. 'Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East – meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,' Witkoff wrote on X on Tuesday. Witkoff also said that Iran's uranium enrichment levels should not exceed 3.67%. On Monday, he told Fox News: 'They do not need to enrich past 3.67%. In some circumstances, they're at 60%, in other circumstances, 20%. That cannot be.' The US Special Envoy suggested that the Trump administration may consider the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018, as a basis for negotiations. 'This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization. That includes missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb,' Witkoff added. Iran Red Lines Tehran has insisted that its defense capabilities, including its missile program, are not up for negotiation. Moreover, Iran has asked for reliable guarantees that the US will not scrap the agreement as Trump did in 2018. Tehran's red lines also include never agreeing to dismantle its uranium enriching centrifuges, halt enrichment altogether, or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below levels agreed in the 2015 deal, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The US, Israel, and Western countries worry that Iran is pursuing an atomic bomb by accelerating its uranium enrichment to 60% purity, close to the 90%-weapon-grade level. On Tuesday, the political advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Shamkhani, said that Iranian negotiators have full authority to reach a comprehensive deal based on 9 principles. These include seriousness, guarantees, lifting sanctions, halting threats, containing aggressors (such as Israel), and facilitating investments, he posted on X. Short link : Post Views: 63
Middle East Eye
19-04-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
Iran and US move to expert-level talks after ‘good meeting' in Rome
The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday that nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States were "moving forward" after a positive meeting. The US and Iran concluded a second round of talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in Rome, a week after holding indirect talks in Muscat that both sides described as constructive. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is peaceful, says it is willing to discuss limited curbs to its atomic work in return for lifting international sanctions. Aragchi negotiated for almost four hours in Rome with Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, through an Omani official who shuttled messages between them. Iran and the United States agreed to task experts to start drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal. Aragchi said experts will meet on Wednesday in Oman before he meets with Witkoff again on 26 April. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "It was a good meeting, and I can say that the negotiations are moving forward. This time we managed to reach a better understanding on a series of principles and goals," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV. 'I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.' Trump, who abandoned a 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and world powers during his first term in 2018, has threatened to attack Iran unless it reaches a new deal swiftly that would prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is peaceful, says it is willing to discuss limited curbs to its atomic work in return for lifting international sanctions.
Rudaw Net
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iranian FM warns against nuclear arms expansion, urges stronger accountability
Also in Iran DEM Party expects Ocalan to release 'historic' message soon Tehran must negotiate with Washington to avoid sanctions, military attacks: Researcher Kurdish 'political prisoner' dies after cancer treatment denied by IRGC Iran alleges US, Israel-linked intelligence networks uncovered A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday condemned countries advancing their nuclear weapons programs and increasing their stockpiles of nuclear warheads as part of their security strategies. Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Aragchi asserted that 'contrary to claims about Iran's nuclear program, the real threat today stems from nuclear-armed states, which collectively possess more than 12,000 nuclear warheads.' He further expressed concern over the efforts of nuclear states 'to increase the number and quality of [their] warheads,' and 'to develop new types of nuclear weapons.' Aragchi slammed these countries' use of nuclear weapons threats - especially Israel - as part of 'their security doctrines.' The Iranian foreign minister urged 'holding nuclear states accountable,' warning that the failure to do so would undermine the 'disarmament and arms control system' established by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 (Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States), formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed sanctions relief. In December, Iran warned European signatories of the 2015 deal that the possible activation of the agreement's 'snapback' provisions - triggering the reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions - would compel Tehran to exit the NPT. The 'snapback' mechanism is set to expire in the autumn of 2025. Meanwhile, in early February, the US President Donald Trump restored the maximum pressure policy against Iran, arguing that Tehran is 'too close' to obtaining nuclear weapons. In the same address, Trump also expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Iran. For its part, Tehran has repeatedly denied any intentions of developing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear program is peaceful.
