TEHRAN — Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated on Tuesday that direct nuclear negotiations with the United States are a possibility, provided that "suitable conditions" are met. The remarks signal a potential willingness to restart stalled talks, though Iran insists it will not compromise on its uranium enrichment program.
Speaking at a press conference, Aref declared that Iran is ready to engage in talks on "balanced terms," but emphasized that any negotiation must be mutually beneficial and not a one-sided directive. "We have shown our willingness to build trust with the other party, but they seem to be silent," he said. Aref flatly rejected the notion of abandoning enrichment, calling a "zero enrichment" plan "very ridiculous" and asserting that Iran would negotiate with dignity. This stance underscores a key point of contention that has plagued diplomatic efforts.
The comments come at a critical juncture, approximately two months after U.S. and Iranian nuclear talks came to an abrupt halt. The sixth round of negotiations was scheduled for June 15, but was suspended after an Israeli airstrike on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility just two days prior. The escalation effectively froze all diplomatic progress.
In a separate move, Iran did restart talks with the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA)—the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—in Istanbul on July 25. However, no subsequent meetings have been scheduled, leaving the future of the accord uncertain.
Adding to the complex diplomatic landscape, the comments follow a visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Deputy Director General for Safeguards Massimo Aparo to Tehran. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state media that the visit focused on cooperation between the IAEA and the Iran Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI). However, Gharibabadi also noted that Iran's delegation "strongly protested the IAEA's failure to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the aggression of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the United States."
This protest stems from a law passed in June, following a series of bombings on Iranian nuclear sites by Israel and the U.S. The legislation mandated a suspension of cooperation with IAEA inspections, leading to the departure of IAEA inspectors from Tehran on July 4. Iran's latest statements suggest a path toward diplomacy is not entirely closed, but it remains contingent on major shifts in its adversaries' positions and a new framework for engagement.
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