In a significant development, Iran has expressed willingness to make concessions regarding its nuclear program in ongoing discussions with the United States. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump characterized recent negotiations with Tehran as "very good."
Iran's Foreign Ministry has affirmed that while Tehran is prepared to guarantee the non-weaponization of its nuclear activities, the issue of uranium enrichment remains firmly off the negotiating table, as reported by CNN.
Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Tehran's Foreign Ministry, assured that ensuring Iran's nuclear program does not lead to weapons development is achievable. However, Baghaei emphasized Iran's insistence on maintaining its right to nuclear energy, stating, "If the intention is to make sure that Iran's nuclear program would not be weaponised, I think that's something that we could simply do."
While Baghaei avoided specifics on potential compromises, he noted "so many ways" to reach an agreement, underscoring the importance of protecting Iran's nuclear energy rights. "If the U.S.' intention is to deprive Iranians of their right to peaceful nuclear energy, that would be very problematic and could challenge the entire negotiation process," he cautioned.
Baghaei added, per Reuters, that constructive intentions from the American side could lead to optimism, warning that talks aimed at limiting Iran's rights would be fruitless.
In a related statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that Iran is prepared to withstand the fallout of unsuccessful negotiations. Speaking to state media, Pezeshkian stated, "It's not like we will die of hunger if they refuse to negotiate with us or impose sanctions. We will find a way to survive."
These discussions aim to address longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear program, with President Trump threatening severe economic sanctions and potentially military action should Tehran fail to reach an agreement. The U.S. administration seeks to limit Iran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons, which could ignite a regional arms race and pose a threat to Israel.
Conversely, Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are solely for civilian purposes and is seeking relief from the economic burden of sanctions that have heavily impacted its oil-driven economy.