Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday that Tehran is no longer enriching uranium at any of its nuclear sites after Israeli and US airstrikes damaged its facilities in June, but added that the country will not give up its right to enrichment or nuclear technology.
“There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran. All of our facilities are under the safeguards and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in response to a question from an Associated Press journalist at a conference in Tehran.
“There is no enrichment right now because our facilities — our enrichment facilities — have been attacked,” he said.
Asked what conditions would allow talks with the United States and others to resume, Araghchi said Iran’s position remains unchanged. “Iran’s right for enrichment, for peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment, is undeniable,” he said. “We would never give up our rights.”
His comments come ahead of a meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors this week, where a new resolution targeting Iran over its lack of cooperation could come to a vote.
European nations pushed through a measure to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran in September.
Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade — after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Tehran maintains its program is peaceful.
US talks with Tehran over its disputed nuclear program began earlier this year with a 60-day ultimatum. On the 61st day, June 13, Israel launched a surprise military campaign which was capped with US strikes on June 22 targeting key nuclear sites in Esfahan, Natanz and Fordow.
Araghchi told journalists that prospects for renewed talks remain limited under current US policy.
"The current approach of the US government does not in any way indicate a readiness for equal and fair negotiations to achieve mutual benefits," he said.
"What we have witnessed from the Americans so far has in fact been an attempt to dictate their own demands; completely maximal and excessive demands," Araghchi added.
"In the face of such demands, we do not see an opportunity for dialogue. Otherwise, we were ready for dialogue, and we always are, and we will continue to be, but we will never participate in negotiations that are intended to dictate."
