Iran holds firm on domestic uranium enrichment

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said uranium enrichment is among the country's fundamental rights and that negotiations with the United States will only conclude once those rights are secured.

“The outcome of these negotiations will only be clear once the rights of the Iranian people are secured. Among these rights is enrichment, and our position on it is completely clear,” Araghchi said in remarks to state broadcaster IRIB on Sunday after briefing parliament’s national security committee.

Araghchi said that Iran welcomes the idea of a regional enrichment center but insists enrichment within Iran must continue. “We welcome the establishment of a regional enrichment center, but enrichment in Iran must continue,” Araghchi said.

He described media reports suggesting that talks could continue into the summer as speculation. “All of these are speculation. We are not in a hurry, and we are also not causing delays. Every hour that sanctions are lifted sooner, we will not hesitate — but not at the cost of the rights of the Iranian people.”