WANA (May 13) – Gharibabadi, Deputy for Legal and International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of Iran’s negotiating team in indirect talks with the United States, emphasized the consistency of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s positions during a session of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission:

 

“In the fourth round of indirect negotiations with the U.S., just like in the previous three rounds, we insisted on clear principles and frameworks. The talks were conducted indirectly, and our focus remained on upholding the country’s red lines. We made it explicitly clear that uranium enrichment is a non-negotiable red line for us, and we will not back down on this issue under any circumstances.”

 

He added, “Uranium enrichment is not only a technical necessity for peaceful purposes—such as fueling the Tehran reactor—but it is also tied to the national pride of the Iranian people. We have paid a heavy price to achieve this technology and will not sacrifice it for any agreement.”

 

Gharibabadi stated, “There will be no negotiations on Iran’s defense capabilities, missile program, or regional issues. These matters are outside the scope of the talks, and we have clearly informed the other side that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not compromise its defensive independence or national security.”

 

He also pointed to the contradictory approach of the U.S. government, saying, “In the recent talks, we strongly objected to the inconsistent behavior of American officials and the imposition of new sanctions. If the U.S. seeks zero enrichment, there is essentially no basis for continuing the negotiations. An agreement will only be possible if Iran’s rights, including the right to enrichment, are recognized.”

 

Gharibabadi stressed, “We will not allow U.S. domestic issues to affect the course of the negotiations. Our priority is to meet the country’s peaceful needs, safeguard the rights of the nation, and maintain our independence in decision-making.”

 

He concluded, “If the negotiation process does not respect Iran’s red lines, we see no reason to continue. The other side must understand that pressure, threats, and sanctions will only lead to a dead end.”