Iran Says Nuclear Talks Will Fail If US Pushes for Zero Enrichment

Iran's and US' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Iran's and US' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Iran Says Nuclear Talks Will Fail If US Pushes for Zero Enrichment

Iran's and US' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Iran's and US' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States "will lead nowhere" if Washington insists that Tehran drop its uranium enrichment activity to zero, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi was quoted by state media on Monday as saying. 

US special envoy Steve Witkoff reiterated Washington's stance on Sunday that any new deal between the US and Iran must include an agreement to refrain from enrichment, a possible pathway to developing nuclear bombs. Tehran says its nuclear energy program has entirely peaceful purposes. 

"Our position on enrichment is clear and we have repeatedly stated that it is a national achievement from which we will not back down," Takhtravanchi said. 

During his visit to the Gulf region last week, US President Donald Trump said a deal was very close but that Iran needed to move quickly to resolve the decades-long dispute. 

Washington is complicating negotiations by expressing views in public different from what is discussed privately during talks, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. 

"Despite hearing contradictory statements from the Americans, we are still participating in negotiations," Esmail Baghaei added. 

A fifth round of talks is expected to take place in Rome this weekend pending confirmation, an Iranian official told Reuters. 

During his first, 2017-21 term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's enrichment activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions. 

Trump, who branded the 2015 accord one-sided in Iran's favor, also reimposed sweeping US sanctions on Iran, that responded by escalating enrichment. 

 



Germany Has No Reason to Doubt Trump's Attendance at NATO Summit

20 June 2025, US, Washington: US President DONALD TRUMP waving as he walks towards Marine One as he leaves the White House. Photo: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 June 2025, US, Washington: US President DONALD TRUMP waving as he walks towards Marine One as he leaves the White House. Photo: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Germany Has No Reason to Doubt Trump's Attendance at NATO Summit

20 June 2025, US, Washington: US President DONALD TRUMP waving as he walks towards Marine One as he leaves the White House. Photo: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 June 2025, US, Washington: US President DONALD TRUMP waving as he walks towards Marine One as he leaves the White House. Photo: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Germany has no reason to assume that US President Donald Trump will not attend the NATO summit in The Hague this week, said a spokesperson for the German government on Monday.

"The summit has been in preparation for weeks and months. The NATO members have confirmed their participation. We have no reason to assume otherwise," said the spokesperson when asked about Trump's attendance.