WANA (May 03) – The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that while Iran remains committed to its obligations, it insists on the Iranian nation’s right to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which inherently requires uranium enrichment.

 

In a conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi discussed regional and international developments and updated him on the latest progress in the indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, as well as Oman’s efforts to organize the next round of talks.

 

Araghchi emphasized Iran’s responsible approach in choosing the diplomatic path to resolve the manufactured dispute over its peaceful nuclear program. He stressed that advancing this path requires genuine will and realism from the other side. As a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran, while adhering to its commitments, insists on the Iranian people’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which necessitates enrichment activities.

 

Referring to past bitter experiences and the other parties’ repeated breaches of commitments, he underscored that reaching a balanced, fair, and lasting agreement requires refraining from raising extralegal demands inconsistent with the NPT. He also emphasized the need for credible assurances on lifting sanctions effectively and ensuring Iran’s economic benefits. Araghchi added that contradictory statements and actions by U.S. officials, alongside continued sanctions and threats against the Iranian people, have only deepened mistrust and skepticism toward Washington’s seriousness about diplomacy.

 

Araghchi also noted several rounds of talks held with the E3 (Germany, France, and the UK) over the past year and reiterated Iran’s readiness to continue engaging with the European parties. He expressed hope that the three countries would adopt a constructive approach toward resolving the current disputes peacefully.

 

The UN Secretary-General, for his part, appreciated Araghchi’s constructive approach in outlining the developments regarding the Iran-U.S. indirect talks and emphasized the importance of continuing this process until a tangible outcome is reached.