Latest news with #nuclearnegotiations
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Trump reaffirms hard line on Iran nuclear deal: 'will not allow any enrichment of uranium'
President Donald Trump on Monday evening looked to reaffirm his administration's position when it comes to nuclear negotiations with Iran and said Tehran will not be allowed "any enrichment of uranium." His message, which surfaced on multiple social media platforms, appeared to be a direct response to a report by Axios which cited two sources with "direct knowledge" of a secret proposal that Washington provided to Tehran, allegedly said the U.S. would agree to permit "limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil for a to-be-determined period of time." Fox News Digital could not independently verify the details of the proposal, but if the decision to grant Tehran some uranium enrichment were granted, it would directly contradict public comments issued by lead negotiator Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump. Iran has repeatedly said it will not agree to a uranium enrichment ban, arguing it has the right to the process, which is also vital for nuclear energy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Monday reiterated this point in a press conference from Egypt, and, according to the Tasnim News Agency, said he plans to respond to the U.S. proposal soon. Araqchi did not comment on the specifics of the agreement but said his "response will be based on the principles of the Iranian nation." The proposal also reportedly included the notion that Iran could join a regional consortium for uranium enrichment, as a solution to its enrichment needs. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Monday reportedly argued that this was not a new solution, nor an adequate substitute. "If some parties are proposing such a process, we welcome it and have no problem with participation either. But we emphasize that such an initiative cannot replace enrichment inside Iran," the spokesperson said. The White House has not said how long it will attempt to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program, as security officials have repeatedly warned that Iran could be playing for time as the threat of U.N. snapback sanctions is set to expire come October. Iran on Tuesday reiterated that it is not going to abandon negotiations but suggested it would not cave to Washington's demands either. "Iran won't leave the negotiating table while protecting its national interests," a spokesperson for the Iranian government, Fatemeh Mohajerani, said, according to the Tasnim News Agency. Though she added, "All scenarios are on the table. We are prepared for everything."
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Iran increases stockpile of enriched Uranium by 50 percent, IAEA says
The United Nations nuclear watchdog says Iran has increased its stockpile of highly enriched, near weapons-grade uranium by 50 percent in the last three months. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday comes as nuclear deal negotiations are under way between the United States and Iran, with Tehran insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. The IAEA said as of May 17, Iran had amassed 408.6kg (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent – the only non-nuclear weapon state to do so, according to the UN agency – and had increased its stockpile by almost 50 percent to 133.8kg since its last report in February. The wide-ranging, confidential report seen by several news agencies said Iran carried out secret nuclear activities with material not declared to the IAEA at three locations that have long been under investigation, calling it a 'serious concern' and warning Tehran to change its course. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, reaffirmed the country's longstanding position, saying Tehran deems nuclear weapons 'unacceptable'. 'If the issue is nuclear weapons, yes, we too consider this type of weapon unacceptable,' Araghchi, Iran's lead negotiator in the nuclear talks with the US, said in a televised speech. 'We agree with them on this issue.' But the report, which was requested by the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors in November, will allow for a push by the United States, Britain, France and Germany to declare Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations. On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon'. 'They don't want to be blown up. They would rather make a deal,' Trump said, adding: 'That would be a great thing that we could have a deal without bombs being dropped all over the Middle East.' In 2015, Iran reached a deal with the United Kingdom, US, Germany, France, Russia, China and the European Union, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It involved the lifting of some sanctions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear development programme. But in 2018, then US President Trump unilaterally quit the agreement and reimposed harsh sanctions. Tehran then rebuilt its stockpiles of enriched uranium. In December last year, the IAEA said Iran was rapidly enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, moving closer to the 90 percent threshold needed for weapons-grade material. Western nations say such intensive enrichment should not be part of a civilian nuclear programme, but Iran insists it is not developing weapons. Hamed Mousavi, professor of political science at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera the IAEA findings could indicate a possible negotiation tool for Iran during its ongoing nuclear talks with the US. 'I think both sides are trying to build leverage against the other side. From the Iranian perspective, an advancement in the nuclear programme is going to bring them leverage at the negotiation table with the Americans,' he said. On the other side, he said, the US could threaten more sanctions and may also refer the Iranian case to the UN Security Council for its breach of the 2006 non-proliferation agreement. However, he added that Iran has not made the 'political decision' to build a possible bomb. 'Enriching up to 60 percent [of uranium] – from the Iranian perspective – is a sort of leverage against the Americans to lift sanctions,' Mousavi said.
Wall Street Journal
27-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Iran Takes Trump's Negotiators for a Ride
The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. appear to be at an impasse. The temptation for President Trump will be to declare victory and pocket a status quo in which Tehran refrains from testing a nuke. The White House may even find comfort in a question senior officials in the Biden administration asked themselves: Why hasn't Iran already gone nuclear? The Trump administration entered negotiations without clear positions on crucial issues, surprising and cheering the Iranian side. But Tehran's happiness was short-lived. Negotiators Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently declared that uranium enrichment in Iran is unacceptable. Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, hasn't broken off talks, indicating hope that Mr. Trump will change his mind or won't preclude an interim deal that allows domestic enrichment.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM lauds Iran's engagement in nuclear talks with US, hopes for positive outcome
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised the Iranian leadership for its 'farsightedness' in pursuing nuclear negotiations with the United States and expressed hope for a positive outcome during a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Sharif arrived in Iran earlier in the day after a stop in Istanbul, as part of a regional diplomacy tour that includes upcoming visits to Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. His trip follows a brief but intense military standoff with neighboring India, in which the two nuclear-armed rivals exchanged missile, drone and artillery fire. Pakistan has thanked Tehran for its support during the conflict. 'The Prime Minister praised the farsightedness of the Iranian leadership in pursuing the nuclear negotiations with the United States and hoped that a constructive deal is reached between the two countries that can promote peace and stability in the region,' Sharif's office said in a statement. Talks between Iran and the US aim to limit Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. A key sticking point remains uranium enrichment, with Washington asking Iran to halt its program, while Tehran insisting on its right to continue enrichment for civilian purposes. During the meeting, Sharif also informed Khamenei about Pakistan's recent conflict with India and accused New Delhi of 'hegemonistic and revisionist designs.' He emphasized Pakistan's desire for regional peace and economic development, and expressed a commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with Iran 'in complex geo-political times.' The Prime Minister's Office said Khamenei praised Sharif's efforts to promote peace and regional stability and reaffirmed support for closer bilateral ties. Earlier on Monday, Sharif also met newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. At a joint press conference, the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, with Pezeshkian emphasizing the need for secure and peaceful borders free from militant and criminal activity. Relations between the two neighbors became strained last year after Iran launched strikes inside Pakistani territory against suspected militant hideouts, prompting retaliatory strikes by Islamabad against separatist militants in Iran. Both sides have since sought to de-escalate tensions and pledged to respect each other's sovereignty. Sharif concluded his meeting with Khamenei by inviting the Supreme Leader to visit Islamabad and expressed appreciation for his admiration of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet.
Al Arabiya
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Iran will not temporarily suspend enrichment to secure nuclear deal with US
Iran will not accept temporarily suspending uranium enrichment to secure a nuclear deal with US, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington.
