WANA (May 31) – The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization stated that some progress has been made in the ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States. He also dismissed talk of “zero enrichment” as rhetoric mainly intended for a Zionist audience.

 

Mohammad Eslami explained that Iran currently operates a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which generated 7.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity last year alone. He added that by the end of the country’s Seventh Development Plan, Iran’s nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 3,000 megawatts. Sites have already been designated in both the north and south of the country for the construction of two additional nuclear power plants.

 

He emphasized that a top priority in Iran’s nuclear agenda is a 20-year strategic roadmap, which envisions the production of 20,000 megawatts of electricity through nuclear energy.

 

Highlighting advances in other areas, Eslami said that significant strides have been made in the fields of plasma therapy, laser technology, and quantum science. He noted that domestically produced radiopharmaceuticals are on par with global standards and are widely used for diagnosing and treating a variety of illnesses.

 

Referring to plans to apply nuclear technology to agriculture, Eslami said there are ongoing nuclear initiatives designed specifically for Mazandaran Province, a key agricultural hub in Iran.

An Iranian woman walks past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran

An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is seen in Tehran, Iran, April 26, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Reiterating progress in the indirect talks with the U.S., Eslami once again downplayed the discourse around zero enrichment: “Some people in New York are talking about zero enrichment — this is nothing more than a delusional fantasy of our enemies, aimed primarily at a Zionist audience,” he said.

 

So far, five rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. have taken place. The fifth round was held on Friday, May 23 (June 2nd in the Gregorian calendar) in Rome, Italy. The first round was hosted by Oman in Muscat on April 11, 2025. Both sides described the talks as constructive and forward-looking. The second round was held in Rome on April 18, also hosted by Oman, while the third and fourth rounds took place in Muscat on April 26 and May 11, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, on Friday evening local time, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he believed a Gaza ceasefire agreement was within reach. He said, “I think we are very close to a deal in Gaza. We may hear something about it today or tomorrow. There is an opportunity here.”

 

Trump then added, “I also believe there’s an opportunity for a deal with Iran. They don’t want to miss this chance — they’d rather come to an agreement. I think a deal with Iran could be possible in the not-so-distant future.”

 

Despite expressing interest in a deal, Trump reiterated his usual warnings: “Iran wants an agreement, and we don’t want to bomb them. If we can reach a deal without dropping bombs in the Middle East, that’s a good thing. We want the Iranian people to have a safe and successful country. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear bomb. I think we are relatively close to an agreement with Iran.”