Latest news with #Steve Witkoff
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Iran says 'no specific date' for US nuclear talks following Israel conflict
TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday (Jul 14) that it had "no specific date" for a meeting with the United States on its nuclear programme, following a war with Israel that derailed ongoing negotiations. "For now, no specific date, time or location has been determined regarding this matter," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, referring to a possible meeting between Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff. The two had previously held five rounds of talks mediated by Oman since April, marking the highest-level contact between Tehran and Washington since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018. WAR HALTS TALKS The Omani-mediated discussions paused after Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on Jun 13, triggering a 12-day conflict that the US later joined with its own attacks. "We have been serious in diplomacy and the negotiation process, we entered with good faith, but as everyone witnessed, before the sixth round the Zionist regime, in coordination with the United States, committed military aggression against Iran," Baqaei said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later issued a statement affirming Tehran's commitment to diplomacy. "We continue to believe that the window for diplomacy remains open, and we will seriously pursue this peaceful path," he said. NUCLEAR CONCERNS AND RETALIATION Israel and several Western countries accuse Iran of secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies. While Iran enriches uranium up to 60 percent purity, near weapons-grade, the UN atomic watchdog says there's no evidence Iran is working to weaponise its stockpile. The Jun 13 Israeli strikes killed nuclear scientists and senior military officers, hitting both military and residential sites. The US followed with its own attacks on Jun 22, targeting facilities in Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. The extent of damage remains unclear, and Baqaei said it was still under investigation. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and also struck a US base in Qatar. Pezeshkian warned of an "even more crushing retaliation" to any future aggression. SANCTIONS AND DIPLOMACY Baqaei said Iran remains in contact with Britain, France and Germany, the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal. However, there is "no legal, moral or political basis" for the reimposition of UN sanctions, he said. He added that Tehran would respond "appropriately and proportionately" if Europe triggers the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which could lead to renewed international sanctions. Despite tensions, Baqaei said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran still considers itself a member of the JCPOA."
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
‘No specific date' for US nuclear talks: Iran
Iran said Monday it had 'no specific date' for a meeting with the United States on Tehran's nuclear program, following a war with Israel that had derailed negotiations. 'For now, no specific date, time or location has been determined regarding this matter,' said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei of plans for a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Iran had been negotiating with the United States before Israel began strikes on its nuclear facilities last month, which Washington later joined. Araghchi and Witkoff met five times, starting in April, without concluding a deal, before Israel launched surprise strikes on June 13, starting a 12-day war. 'We have been serious in diplomacy and the negotiation process, we entered with good faith, but as everyone witnessed, before the sixth round the Zionist regime, in coordination with the United States, committed military aggression against Iran,' said Baqaei. The United States launched its own set of strikes against Iran's nuclear program on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz. The extent of the damage from the strikes remains unknown. With its own strikes, numbering in the hundreds, Israel killed nuclear scientists and top-ranking military officers as well as hitting military, nuclear and other sites. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel, while it attacked a US base in Qatar in retaliation for Washington's strikes. Israel and Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied. While it is the only non-nuclear power to enrich uranium to 60-percent purity, close to the level needed for a warhead, the UN's atomic energy watchdog has said it had no indication that Iran was working to weaponize its stockpiles.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran denies requesting meeting with US, state media reports
US President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said he would meet with Iranian diplomats "next week or so." Iran did not request a meeting with the United States to resume nuclear talks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday, according to state media. US President Donald Trump's Middle East EnvoySteve Witkoff said he would meet with Iranian diplomats "next week or so." President Trump announced at the end of June that the US would hold talks with the Iranian leadership in the upcoming week in a bid to close a nuclear deal. This was said at a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Foreign MinisterAbbas Aragchi earlier said in an interview on state TV that Iran has no plan to meet with the US, contradicting Trump's statement that Washington planned to have talks with Iran next week. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had since said in an interview with conservative US podcaster Tucker Carlson, "I am of the belief that we could very much easily resolve our differences and conflicts with the United States through dialogue and talks."
