Latest news with #KazemGharibabadi
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Iran Gives Update on Conditions for Nuclear Talks With US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran said it won't base its economic strategy on any resumption of nuclear talks with the U.S. and warned it has ways to overcome sanctions if Washington rejects its conditions. "We are currently under sanctions, but we are still carrying out our economic and commercial activities and selling our oil," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA). Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment. Why It Matters While Iran has not demanded sanctions relief as a precondition for talks, it views lifting sanctions as a key objective of negotiations. Nearly seven months into President Donald Trump's second term—which began with public overtures toward Iran and promises of a new Middle East peace framework—diplomatic progress remains stalled after strikes by Israel and the U.S. deepened mistrust, with Tehran signalling it won't submit to Washington's demand for zero uranium enrichment. With a fragile ceasefire in place, there is the potential for renewed military action to erupt at any moment and develop into a broader confrontation. A man holds an Iranian flag at the start of an anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli protest after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran on July 25, 2025. A man holds an Iranian flag at the start of an anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli protest after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran on July 25, 2025. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo What To Know Gharibabadi, a member of the Iranian negotiating team that held talks with the U.S. prior to strikes on its nuclear facilities, said Tehran remains able to carry out economic and trade activities—including continuing oil exports—even under sweeping sanctions. "They wanted to reduce our oil sales to zero, but they couldn't. Because there are different capacities. We should not tie all the country's destinies to negotiations," he said in an interview with the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA). The U.S. issued a new round of sanctions targeting over a hundred individuals, entities and vessels linked to Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, a measure Iran said was an "assault on the Iranian people." Gharibabadi suggested Iran is awaiting a possible response to the preconditions it has set for resuming nuclear talks, including financial compensation and guarantees against military attack. The U.S. has rejected Iran's call for financial compensation, calling the request "ridiculous." What People Are Saying Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister of Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi told ILNA: "If we were able to lift the sanctions through negotiations, that would be great, and this is not a bad step, and we should do it. But if they want to take advantage of the negotiation platform, we should naturally not tie everything to negotiations." U.S. State Department Tammy Bruce told reporters on July 31: "What I can say is that any demands for financial compensation from the United States to the Iranian regime are ridiculous. If the Iranian regime really wanted to save money or alleviate some of the sanctions policy, they would stop taking destabilizing actions." What Happens Next Iran is risking further international sanctions if it fails to reach a nuclear agreement with European countries.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran's Deputy FM: We Coordinate with China, Russia to Counter Snapback
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi said on Sunday that his country is closely coordinating with China and Russia to respond to the 'snapback' mechanism should the E3 decide to invoke the United Nations sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program before it is set to expire on Oct. 18. According to Committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei, Gharibabadi told deputies that the European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal have no legal grounds to invoke the snapback mechanism, as they have failed to fulfill their own commitments under the agreement. Rezaei said the deputy foreign minister presented a detailed report to the Iranian Parliament following talks were held in Istanbul last month with counterparts from the European trio and the EU, addressing prospects for resuming negotiations. The E3 have set a deadline of the end of August to revive diplomacy. Diplomats say they want Iran to take concrete steps to convince them to extend the deadline by up to six months. In this regard, Gharibabadi said the European side proposed extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 for an additional six months under specific conditions. However, he added, 'We proposed that instead of extending Resolution 2231, negotiations should focus on ending the Snapback mechanism altogether. The resolution must expire at its predetermined date. Decisions will be made based on our national interests and security.' Concerning talks with the US, Gharibabadi said there have been no recent developments. 'The Iranian people's rights—such as uranium enrichment, lifting of sanctions, compensation for damages, and rebuilding trust—must be respected,' he noted. Rezaei said committee members warned against stirring public fear over the Snapback mechanism. 'The West and Europeans are not trustworthy. They've violated their own commitments,' he stated, while stressing Iran should prioritize its internal capabilities and strengthen ties with China and Russia, according to ISNA. Gharibabadi's comments however appeared to contradict remarks made by another deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, who said the IAEA inspectors would return to Tehran soon. Speaking to Chinese broadcaster Phoenix, Khatibzadeh said Parliament's recent decision does not mandate severing ties with the IAEA. Rather, he said, it places the Supreme National Security Council in charge of managing relations. 'We're implementing a new mechanism, but we have no intention of halting cooperation,' the deputy FM said. 'Inspectors left voluntarily amid the conflict and attacks. They were not expelled,' Khatibzadeh said, adding that the inspectors would return to Iran in the coming weeks. Concerning talks with the US, he said, 'We are not in a hurry to enter any indirect talks or frameworks unless solid guarantees are provided for meaningful negotiations.' 'The United States observes no red lines when it comes to attacking peaceful nuclear facilities in other nations. It must be taught a lesson—it cannot recklessly and brutally violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others,' he added. Khatibzadeh declined to provide specific details when asked about the fate of Iran's 60% enriched uranium stockpile. On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by a local newspaper responding to the Financial Times on the same matter. When asked about the stockpile's current status, Araghchi said, 'I don't know.'
01-08-2025
- Business
European and Iranian diplomats meet in Istanbul as return of sanctions looms over nuclear deadlock
ISTANBUL -- Talks between Iranian and European diplomats in Istanbul ended Friday with the sides agreeing to meet again to seek to unpick the deadlock over Tehran's nuclear program. Representatives from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, gathered at the Iranian Consulate building for the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, which involved U.S. bombers striking nuclear-related facilities. The talks, which ended after four hours, centered on the possibility of reimposing sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program. Iranian negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, said that the 'serious, frank and detailed' meeting focused on the nuclear issue and the status of sanctions while agreeing to further discussions. The E3 nations had earlier warned that sanctions could return under a process known as the 'snapback' mechanism, which allows one of the Western parties to reimpose U.N. sanctions if Tehran doesn't comply with its requirements. 'Both sides came to the meeting with specific ideas,' Gharibabadi said in a social media post. 'It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.' As the talks were ongoing, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said that he hoped that the meeting would see the E3 nations reassess their 'previous unconstructive attitude.' European leaders have said sanctions will resume by the end of August, if there is no progress on containing Iran's nuclear program. The snapback mechanism 'remains on the table," a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, 'A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile,' the diplomat said prior to Friday's negotiations. Tehran, meanwhile, has said that Washington, which withdrew from the 2015 deal during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump, needs to rebuild faith in its role in negotiations. Gharibabadi previously said that Iran's engagement was dependent on 'several key principles' that included 'rebuilding Iran's trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States.' In a social media post on Thursday, he also said that the talks shouldn't be used 'as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action.' Gharibabadi insisted that Iran's right to enrich uranium 'in line with its legitimate needs' be respected, and sanctions removed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which commits it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, if sanctions return. Friday's talks were held at the deputy ministerial level, with Iran sending Gharibabadi and a fellow deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul in May. The identity of the E3 representatives weren't immediately clear, but the European Union's deputy foreign policy commissioner was thought to be attending. The U.K., France and Germany were signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside the U.S., Russia and China. When Washington withdrew in 2018, Trump insisted the agreement wasn't tough enough. Under the original deal, neither Russia nor China can veto reimposed sanctions. Since the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, which saw American B-52 bombers hit three nuclear sites, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying that they failed to uphold their obligations while supporting Israel's attacks. Against the backdrop of the conflict, in which Iran responded with missile attacks on Israel and a strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, the road ahead remains uncertain. While European officials have said they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they have warned that time is running out. Tehran maintains that it's open to diplomacy, though it recently suspended cooperation with the IAEA. A central concern for Western powers was highlighted when the IAEA reported in May that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% — just below weapons-grade level — had grown to more than 400 kilograms (nearly 900 pounds). In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran is prepared for another war and reiterated that its nuclear program will continue within the framework of international law, while adding that the country had no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi, meanwhile, said that no date had been set yet to restart inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. Speaking during a visit to Singapore on Friday, he warned that if inspectors 'do not return soon, there will be a serious problem, because this is an international obligation of Iran.' While he was 'encouraged' by Tehran's readiness to engage with the IAEA, Grossi said that the sides needed 'to move from words to the reality.' Stephanie Liechtenstein reported from Vienna. Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat contributed to this report from Tehran, Iran.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iran and Europeans hold 'frank' nuclear talks with UN sanctions looming
Iran would need to make commitments on key issues, including eventual talks with Washington, full cooperation with the UN's IAEA, and accounting for 400 kg of its enriched uranium. Iran said it would continue nuclear talks with European powers after "serious, frank, and detailed" conversations on Friday, the first such face-to-face meeting since Israel and the US bombed Iran last month. Before the meeting in Istanbul, Iran also pushed back on suggestions of extending the United Nations resolution that ratifies a 2015 deal, nearing expiry, that was designed to curb its nuclear program. Delegations from the European Union and the so-called E3 group of France, Britain, and Germany met Iranian counterparts for about four hours at Iran's consulate for talks that the UN nuclear watchdog said could provide an opening to resume inspections in Iran. Iranians and Europeans express Ideas on sanctions relief and nuclear issue Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said afterward that both sides had presented specific ideas on sanctions relief and the nuclear issue. "While seriously criticizing their stances regarding the recent war of aggression against our people, we explained our principled positions, including on the so-called snapback mechanism," he said. "It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue." The European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 deal - from which the US withdrew in 2018 - which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear program. A deadline of Oct. 18 is fast approaching when the resolution governing that deal expires. At that point, all UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted unless the "snapback" mechanism is triggered at least 30 days before. This would automatically reimpose those sanctions, which target sectors from hydrocarbons to banking and defense. To give time for this to happen, the E3 have set a deadline of the end of August to revive diplomacy. Diplomats say they want Iran to take concrete steps to convince them to extend the deadline by up to six months. Europeans want nuclear commitment from Iran Iran would need to make commitments on key issues, including eventual talks with Washington, full cooperation with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and accounting for 400 kg (880 pounds) of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium, whose whereabouts are unknown since last month's strikes. Before the talks, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson had said Tehran considered talk of extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to be "meaningless and baseless." IAEA head Rafael Grossi said he was optimistic that nuclear inspection visits might be able to restart this year and that it was important to discuss the technical details now. "We need to agree on where to go, how to do it. We need to listen to Iran in terms of what they consider should be the precautions to be taken," he told reporters in Singapore. The United States held five rounds of talks with Iran prior to its airstrikes in June, which US President Donald Trump said had "obliterated" a program that Washington and its ally Israel say is aimed at acquiring a nuclear bomb. However, NBC News has cited current and former US officials as saying a subsequent US assessment found that while the strikes destroyed most of one of three targeted nuclear sites, the other two were not as badly damaged. Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear program is meant solely for civilian purposes. Solve the daily Crossword
Reuters
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief says Iran ready to restart technical conversations
SINGAPORE, July 25 (Reuters) - Iran has indicated that it will be ready to restart technical-level discussions on its nuclear programme with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it must be allowed to resume inspections after Israeli and U.S. airstrikes last month that aimed to destroy Iran's nuclear programme and deny it the capacity to build a nuclear weapon. Rafael Grossi said in Singapore that Iran must be transparent about its facilities and activities. He told reporters alongside a public lecture that the IAEA had proposed that Iran start discussions on "the modalities as to how to restart or begin (inspections) again". "So this is what we are planning to do, perhaps starting on technical details and, later on, moving on to high level consultations," Grossi said, adding that technical teams sent to Iran for talks will not include inspectors yet. On Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran had agreed to allow a technical team from the IAEA to visit in the coming weeks, but not to go to the nuclear sites. Tehran, which denies seeking to build a nuclear weapon, has said access to the bombed sites poses security and safety risks. Grossi said he had no further information from Iran on the status and whereabouts of its stock of some 400 kg of highly enriched uranium. "This is why it is so important that we engage as soon as possible and that we can start our inspection," he said. (This story has been corrected to remove the attribution of the phrase 'So this will not include inspections yet' to Grossi in paragraph 6)
