WANA (May 19) – The Iranian Foreign Minister has declared that its uranium enrichment activities will persist with or without a new agreement, underscoring its commitment to its nuclear program amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister and chief negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, addressed recent contradictory statements made by U.S. officials regarding nuclear negotiations. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi criticized the inconsistency of U.S. messaging and reiterated Iran’s principled stance on its nuclear rights.

 

“In addressing the talks regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, our U.S. interlocutors are naturally free to publicly state whatever they deem fit to ward off Special Interest groups—malign actors which set the agendas of at least previous Administrations,” Araghchi wrote.

 

He emphasized that Iran will not engage in public negotiations and cautioned against relying on public statements made by U.S. officials, citing discrepancies between their private and public remarks.

 

“Iran can only control what we Iranians do, and that is to avoid negotiating in public—particularly given the current dissonance we are seeing between what our U.S. interlocutors say in public and in private, and from one week to the other,” he noted.

 

Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering position on its nuclear rights as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), describing uranium enrichment as a symbol of national resilience and sacrifice.

 

“Our stance on Iran’s rights as a NPT member is crystal clear, and there is no scenario in which Iranians will permit deviance from that. Mastering enrichment technology is a hard-earned and homegrown scientific achievement; an outcome of great sacrifice of both blood and treasure,” he said.

 

While signaling readiness for a serious dialogue, Araghchi reiterated that enrichment will not be halted under any circumstances.

 

“If the U.S. is interested in ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, a deal is within reach, and we are ready for a serious conversation to achieve a solution that will forever ensure that outcome. Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal,” he concluded.

 

The statement comes amid stalled efforts to revive a comprehensive nuclear agreement and growing pressure from interest groups on both sides. Iran maintains that its nuclear program remains strictly peaceful and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).