Araghchi rules out zero enrichment but signals progress on disputed issues
Iran's foreign minister said on Sunday that Tehran and Washington had made good progress on disputed issues during the fourth round of talks in Muscat, but reiterated Iran’s opposition to the US demand that it dismantle its uranium enrichment program.
“Uranium enrichment is not subject to compromise. While the scale and level of enrichment may be limited for confidence-building, the principle of enrichment is non-negotiable,” Abbas Araghchi told the state TV.
"The Americans’ contradictory public statements do not help the negotiations, and today in the talks we said it clearly that this approach must be corrected. It was emphasized that contradictory media portrayals harm the talks. If such contradictions continue, we will be forced to respond in kind."
He also said that "sanctions relief remains one of the foundations of our negotiation under any circumstances."
Araghchi described the fourth round of talks with the United States as "more serious and franker" than the previous rounds. He said the two sides "have come much closer on the disputed issues and understand each other better, and I hope we will make further progress moving forward."
"We moved away from general frameworks and entered more specific issues, which made the negotiations more difficult," Araghchi told the state TV.
"Despite the difficulty and frankness of the negotiations, useful discussions took place."
Araghchi said, "There is now greater understanding, and positions have come closer."
He said the talks can be described as moving forward, and both sides are determined.
"An agreement was reached to hold another meeting, but arranging the next round has been left to the Foreign Minister of Oman."
He said the next round of talks will probably be held in a week.
