Javan newspaper, affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, criticized remarks by US lead negotiator Steven Witkoff calling for an end to enrichment and the dismantling of centrifuges in Iran.
“This is no longer called negotiation, it’s a stick,” the paper wrote. It added that Witkoff’s stance has brought the fourth round of talks to a point where questions about the path ahead—and whether the process can continue at all—must now be answered.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States’ positions remain a major obstacle in nuclear negotiations, as he prepared to join a new round of talks in Muscat.
“The Americans have contradictory positions in the negotiations, and this is one of the serious problems in the talks,” Araghchi said. “If there are concerns, we are ready to build trust. We are prepared to take steps that would generate greater confidence.”
He ruled out any compromise on uranium enrichment, saying, “The blood of our nuclear scientists has been shed for enrichment. This right is not negotiable.”
Araghchi confirmed he was departing for the Muscat talks after consultations in Tehran and a regional visit that included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “We hope this round will reach a decisive point,” he said.
“Our positions are entirely clear, and Iran’s nuclear program is based on a strong legal foundation,” Araghchi added. “All its aspects are peaceful and have always been, and will continue to be, under the supervision of the IAEA.”
Iran’s delegation has arrived in Muscat and is preparing for negotiations with the United States, scheduled to begin around noon, a source familiar with the matter told Tasnim website.
The source added that Oman's foreign minister will determine the meeting location.
