Nuclear talks will continue until deal reached, former Iranian minister says
Abbas Akhoundi, a former Iranian minister who served in President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet, said ongoing nuclear negotiations are unlikely to be abandoned by either side.
“The harsh remarks by American officials are mostly intended for their domestic audience,” Akhoundi was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
“That does not mean we are guaranteed a good deal, but if a preliminary agreement is reached, it could quickly lead to a comprehensive one.”
Akhoundi stressed that neither Washington nor Tehran can unilaterally walk away from the diplomatic process.“Negotiations will continue until a result is achieved,” he said.
Iran’s parliament issued a firm statement on Wednesday defending the country’s nuclear program, saying that Tehran's right to uranium enrichment, including to levels beyond 20%, is non-negotiable.
The parliamentary declaration follows Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's skepticism on Tuesday regarding the success of ongoing indirect nuclear talks with the United States, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's announcement that Iran is assessing its participation in the next round of negotiations.
The statement, read by parliamentary presidium member Mohammad Rashidi, said that Iran’s enrichment levels would not be capped at below 20% and would instead be determined by peaceful domestic demands.
It emphasized the importance of nuclear technology for non-military uses such as medicine, agriculture, energy, and desalination.
Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to 60% purity—a level the UN nuclear watchdog says has no credible civilian use and is technically close to weapons-grade 90% fissile material.
Lawmakers said Iran’s nuclear activities were fully in line with its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling any abandonment of the program “a betrayal of national interests and the country’s future.”
The statement came hours after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had yet to decide whether it would attend the next round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States.
“We are still assessing whether to participate,” Araghchi told reporters on Wednesday.
Araghchi added that uranium enrichment would continue “with or without an agreement,” and called on Western powers to lift what he described as “unjust sanctions.”
“If they make further demands and try to deprive us of our rights, there will be no room for acceptance,” he added.
Khamenei, who has the final say on state matters, warned on Tuesday that the outcome of diplomatic efforts remained unclear.
In their statement, Iranian lawmakers also said the US had no standing to dictate terms to Iran.
Following the reading of the statement, lawmakers chanted slogans against the United States and Israel.
Iran’s parliament said Wednesday it would not back down from its nuclear rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Reading a statement endorsed by lawmakers, Mohammad Rashidi of the Majles presidium said: “Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons, and it will not relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear technology.”
The statement cited an Article of the NPT, which guarantees all signatories the right to develop and use nuclear energy.
The MPs also slammed what they called “delusional statements by American officials” and accused Washington of “hypocrisy,”citing its nuclear history and support for Israel.
Iranian lawmakers warned that the Islamic Republic would continue enrichment activities under IAEA oversight.
In the statement, lawmakers described the United States as “a regime in decline, weakened and brittle,” and said President Trump’s team lacked the authority or credibility to impose demands on Iran.
A session of the Iranian parliament on May 21, 2025
“The Trump administration is in no position to dictate terms to Iran,” the statement read, adding that American officials were “too petty to issue commands to the Islamic Republic.”
“The Islamic Republic must legally benefit from the full nuclear fuel cycle, especially in the area of enrichment,” the parliament said, stressing that peaceful enrichment was not limited to low-grade levels under 20 percent.
The statement ended with a vow to resist foreign pressure and defend what it called the nation’s “inalienable nuclear rights.”
After the statement was read, members of parliament chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Iran’s nuclear policy is independent and focused on domestic enrichment, said First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Wednesday.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not take instructions from anyone in its science and technology strategy,” he said during a cabinet meeting.
Aref added that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine, saying, “The priority of the Islamic Republic is enrichment on Iranian soil.”
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, criticized the United States for what he called shifting positions in nuclear negotiations, saying they destabilize the talks.
“The Americans’ zigzagging, contradictory positions disrupt the atmosphere. No one can be certain it won’t have an impact,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi said.
He added that uranium enrichment remains Iran’s central red line.
“Conflicting opinions in the US or elsewhere about Iran’s right to enrichment are not our concern—that’s their problem,” he said.
He continued that the issue is “very clear both inside and outside the negotiating room,” and the US side is fully aware of Iran’s stance.
He also criticized conducting negotiations through the media. “We do not believe talks should happen outside the negotiation rooms. It is not right to negotiate through the press,” he said.
Donald Trump’s praise of Persian Gulf Arab states while mocking Iran revealed the US president’s weakness, said Ghasem Ravanbakhsh, a member of Iran’s parliament from Qom.
“Your begging in Persian Gulf Arab homes and looting of the region’s wealth best illustrates the desperation of you Americans,” he said.
