Iran says it is open to talks about concerns about militarization of its
nuclear program
[March 10, 2025]
Iran said Sunday it would consider negotiations with the United
States if the talks were confined to concerns about the militarization
of its nuclear program.
In a statement posted on X, the country’s U.N. mission said: “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.” |
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the
Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks
under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini,
as armed forces commander listen, at rear, in a ceremony meeting a group
of officials, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Office of the
Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) |
|
A day earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had rejected
talks with the U.S., because he said they would be aimed at
imposing restrictions on Iran's missile program and its
influence in the region.
Khamenei’s remarks came a day after President Donald Trump
acknowledged sending a letter to him seeking a new deal with
Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear program and
replace the nuclear deal he withdrew America from during his
first term in office.
Khamenei said U.S. demands would be both military and related to
the regional influence of Iran. He said such talks would not
solve problems between Iran and the West.
Trump’s overture comes as both Israel and the United States have
warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon,
leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches
uranium at near weapons-grade levels — something only done by
atomic-armed nations.
Tehran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes,
even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb.
Tensions are high with the U.S. over its sanctions and with
Israel as a shaky ceasefire holds in its war against Hamas in
the Gaza Strip.
The Iranian statement Sunday, while allowing for talks on
concerns about militarization, stressed that Tehran would not
negotiate away what it stresses is its 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,”
Iran’s mission said.
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