Iran announced on Sunday that it would consider engaging in nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only if the discussions focus on addressing concerns related to the “potential militarisation” of its nuclear program. The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Iran’s mission to the United Nations, emphasized that Tehran would not entertain talks aimed at dismantling its peaceful nuclear activities.
The post came a day after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized what he described as “bullying” tactics by the US, following a threat of military action by President Donald Trump. The Iranian mission’s statement clarified that negotiations could be considered if their purpose is to address concerns about the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program. However, it firmly rejected any talks aimed at shutting down Iran’s peaceful nuclear initiatives, stating, “Should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme to claim that what Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place.”
The statement referenced the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, including the US, under then-President Barack Obama. The deal provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities. However, Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran. Tehran initially continued to comply with the JCPOA for another year but later began scaling back its commitments. Since then, Iran has significantly increased its uranium enrichment levels, far exceeding the limits set by the JCPOA.
US officials have estimated that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within weeks if it decides to do so. On Friday, Trump revealed that he had sent a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, urging new talks on Iran’s nuclear program while warning of potential military action if Tehran refuses to engage. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that Iran had not yet received any such letter from the US president.
In his remarks on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the US approach, accusing Washington of using negotiations as a tool for domination rather than resolving issues. “Some bully governments — I really don’t know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying — insist on negotiations,” Khamenei said. “Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems; they aim at domination,” he added.
Despite the tensions, Iran has recently engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European signatories to the JCPOA — Britain, France, and Germany — to address concerns surrounding its nuclear program. These talks aim to find a resolution to the ongoing impasse, though Iran remains steadfast in its refusal to negotiate the complete cessation of its nuclear activities.
The situation highlights the ongoing standoff between Iran and the US, with Tehran insisting on its right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy while Washington seeks to curb what it views as a potential threat to regional and global security.
