On Sunday, Iran suggested that it might be willing to engage in talks with the United States, but only if the discussions are strictly focused on addressing concerns about the potential militarization of its nuclear program, as reported by The Associated Press.
In a post shared on X, Iran’s UN mission stated, “If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-à-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration.”
This statement was released a day after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected the notion of talks with the U.S., claiming that Washington’s aim was to limit Iran’s missile capabilities and regional influence.
Khamenei’s remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had sent a letter to Khamenei in an attempt to negotiate a new agreement aimed at curbing Iran’s rapidly progressing nuclear program.
In response, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes reiterated, nearly word-for-word, the choice of either negotiations or military action that Trump had offered to Iran.
“We hope the Iran Regime puts its people and best interests ahead of terror,” he said.
Trump’s outreach occurs amid continued statements from both Israel and the U.S. that they will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, raising fears of a potential military confrontation as Tehran persists in enriching uranium at levels close to weapons-grade.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, despite increasingly provocative rhetoric from officials suggesting that nuclear weapons may be in its future plans.
While Iran’s statement on Sunday hinted at a willingness to discuss concerns regarding militarization, it made clear that Tehran would not engage in negotiations over what it insists is a peaceful nuclear program.
“However, should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program to claim that what Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place,” the Iranian mission said.
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