Tehran Hints at Returning to Nuclear Talks Soon

Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
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Tehran Hints at Returning to Nuclear Talks Soon

Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)
Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Ulyanov (Reuters)

In the wake of a partial understanding between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh hinted that Tehran would soon return to the Vienna negotiating table aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Despite saying that Tehran would go back to nuclear talks, Khatibzadeh asked other parties to have a “realistic” approach that matches “the facts on the ground,” implying that Iran’s enrichment of uranium has accelerated to reach 60%, a percentage close to that needed to develop nuclear weapons.

More so, Khatibzadeh refused to tell reporters at a press conference an exact date for resuming nuclear negotiations. He also did not give a date for the visit of the chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, to Vienna.

Eslami is scheduled to hold discussions with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi within a few days.

“We expect other parties to come to Vienna with a realistic approach and consider realities on the ground,” Khatibzadeh told reporters.

Khatibzadeh said that Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran before the meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors “was within the framework of resolving issues.”

The spokesperson said that Tehran would maintain its “normal and technical” relations with the UN nuclear watchdog so long that it remains impartial towards Iran.

He warned the other parties against “impairing technical relations with political motives and issues” and said that “Iran will direct an appropriate response to this issue.”

Nuclear talks with Iran had stopped last June. Less than a month later, the conservative Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, took office.

Western powers urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, saying that time was running out, with the development of its nuclear program going beyond the restrictions contained in the agreement that Washington withdrew from in 2018.



Pakistan: Intelligence Suggests Indian Military Action Likely Soon

Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
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Pakistan: Intelligence Suggests Indian Military Action Likely Soon

Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Pakistan said on Wednesday it has "credible intelligence" that India intends to launch military action soon, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors escalate following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.
In the April 22 attack, the assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.
India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.
The old rivals, born out of British colonial India in 1947, have unleashed measures against each other after the attack, with India putting the critical Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
Pakistan has said it had "credible intelligence" that India intends to carry out military action against it in the "next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident".
India's foreign and defense ministries did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
In a statement early on Wednesday, Islamabad said it condemned terrorism in all forms and will respond "assuredly and decisively" to any military action from India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue and punish the Pahalgam attackers.
India's cabinet committee on security (CCS), consisting of Modi and his interior, defense, home and finance ministers is scheduled to meet later in the day, a government source told Reuters.
This would be the second such meeting of the CCS since the attack on April 22.
Modi has told his military chiefs they have the freedom to decide the country's response to the Pahalgam attack, another government source said.
Small arms fire between the two armies has spread to more points along the frontier between the two countries.
The Indian army said it responded to "unprovoked" firing from multiple Pakistan army posts around midnight on Tuesday, the sixth consecutive violation of their ceasefire agreement.
It gave no further details and reported no casualties. The Pakistani military did not respond to a request for comment.