Iran says unyielding US line on enrichment will scupper talks

Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday that nuclear talks with the United States will fail if Washington insists on Iran halting its uranium enrichment, in one of Tehran's gloomiest assessments yet of the negotiations.

“The American side says enrichment must stop in Iran, and if that is their goal, there will be no agreement,” Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with state media.

“We will not give up our rights, and our nuclear program, including enrichment, must continue."

Iran insists its disputed nuclear program is peaceful and sees domestic enrichment as a right enshrined by international covenants.

Western countries and Mideast arch-nemesis Israel doubt Iran's intentions.

US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday that Washington was optimistic about the talks which are due for a fifth round in Rome on Friday because Iranian diplomats were still talking despite the hard US line on enrichment.

"The fifth round of the nuclear talks would not be happening if we didn't think that there was potential for it," Bruce told reporters on Thursday.

"Clearly we believe that we are going to succeed," she added. "Most of our leaders have who have spoken on it (have said talks are) about no enrichment, and the Iranians are (still) at that table. So they also understand what our position is, and they continue to go."

Iran prepared to respond to any Israeli strike

Addressing reports that Israel may be preparing for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Araghchi said he had written to UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning that Iran will defend its nuclear facilities if attacked.

"If the threats continue, we will be forced to implement special arrangements to protect our nuclear facilities and materials, and those who need to understand what these special arrangements are will certainly understand," he said.

CNN reported Tuesday that US intelligence indicates Israel is preparing for potential strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, citing multiple American officials.

Araghchi also said that Israel is against US negotiations with Iran and in recent months they have tried their best to drag Washington into war with Tehran.

“Whether or not the US participates in an attack alongside Israel, we see it as a partner in aggression. We do not accept the idea that Israel could act without American coordination,” he said.