Iran Declares Uranium Enrichment a ‘Red Line’ in US Talks, Deputy Foreign Minister Reports
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, has reaffirmed Tehran's stance on its right to enrich uranium. He emphasized that this matter remains a non-negotiable red line in the ongoing indirect discussions with the United States.
In a recent session of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Gharibabadi provided insights into the second round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which took place in Rome, Italy, just a day earlier.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the committee, reported that Gharibabadi participated in the session to provide detailed insight into the negotiation discussions.
During the meeting, Gharibabadi reiterated that Iran has consistently stressed its commitment to not pursuing nuclear weapons, emphasizing that its nuclear activities remain entirely peaceful in nature.
He also noted that a significant point in the discussions was the demand for the total removal of sanctions, encompassing those imposed by the US Congress and the executive orders signed by Trump.
Gharibabadi stressed the importance of comprehensive and effective sanctions removal, highlighting the need for substantial economic benefits for the Iranian people and cautioning against actions that are purely symbolic in nature.
Rezaei cited the deputy foreign minister, who stated that the parties involved have deliberated on the overall framework, agenda, and technical matters, reaching an understanding during the Rome negotiations.
He announced that expert-level technical negotiations are scheduled to take place in Muscat on Wednesday. He further noted that the parties involved are in the process of extracting and formulating the overarching principles for the discussions.
Rezaei emphasized that Iran is fully committed to the negotiations and rejects any postponement in the process.
He emphasized the importance of the opposing party engaging earnestly in the discussions, urging them not to succumb to the influence of pressures from the Israeli regime, which is perceived as attempting to undermine the negotiation process.
A second series of discussions between Tehran and Washington, focused on Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, took place at the Omani Embassy in Rome on Saturday.
Negotiations were spearheaded by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi once again acting as the mediator.
The parties have scheduled technical negotiations involving experts in Muscat on April 23, aiming to delve into specifics and establish a framework for an agreement.
Senior negotiators from both nations are scheduled to convene once more on April 26, aiming to assess the outcomes of the expert gatherings and determine their proximity to reaching an agreement.
