Iran says would consider limited nuclear talks with US

Iran declared on Sunday that it would entertain nuclear talks with the US, but only insofar as they addressed external worries about the “potential militarization” of the program, not its complete cessation.

A day after US President Donald Trump threatened military action, Iran’s supreme leader denounced what he called “bullying” methods that insisted on negotiations. This was followed by the post on X by Iran’s mission to the UN.

“If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-a-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration,” the post said.

“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,” it continued.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement signed between Tehran and key nations in 2015 under US President Barack Obama, was the subject of the piece.

The agreement had provided sanctions relief in return for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

In 2018, during his first term, Trump renounced it and reinstated broad sanctions against Iran. After adhering to the conditions for an additional year, Tehran started to renounce its own pledges.

Since then, it has significantly increased its uranium enrichment, going well above the JCPOA’s restrictions.

According to current US sources, Iran could manufacture a nuclear bomb in a matter of weeks if it so desired.

Trump said on Friday that he had written to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, demanding new negotiations on the country’s nuclear program but threatening to use force if the Iranian leader refused.

Iran has not yet received a letter from the US president by Saturday, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“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 told officials on Saturday, after Trump’s threat.

“Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems, they aim at domination,” Khamenei said.

Tehran has in recent months engaged in diplomatic efforts with the three European parties to the deal Britain, France and Germany aimed at resolving issues surrounding its nuclear ambitions.