Araghchi: Uranium Enrichment the Main Sticking Point in US-Iran Nuclear Talks

Araghchi in an exclusive interview with Asharq
Araghchi in an exclusive interview with Asharq
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Araghchi: Uranium Enrichment the Main Sticking Point in US-Iran Nuclear Talks

Araghchi in an exclusive interview with Asharq
Araghchi in an exclusive interview with Asharq

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that uranium enrichment remains the central obstacle in nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, describing the process as a “scientific and national achievement” that Tehran will not abandon.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq TV, Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran’s nuclear program is “entirely peaceful” and stressed that Tehran has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons.

He added that American threats and pressure would not change Tehran’s stance, hence the continued use of indirect talks through Omani mediation.

“Uranium enrichment is a symbol of our national sovereignty,” Araghchi said. “The Iranian people have made great sacrifices for this program,” he added, alluding to the assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists, which Tehran accuses Israel of involvement.

While expressing willingness to enhance transparency around Iran’s nuclear activities, Araghchi made clear that this would only come with full recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy. “Any agreement must clearly safeguard these rights,” he said.

The foreign minister dismissed comments made by US President Donald Trump, who had claimed Iran does not need a peaceful nuclear program. “Only the Iranian people can determine what they need,” Araghchi responded. “We do not negotiate under threats. We set the terms and framework of our negotiations ourselves.”

He stressed that the US sanctions campaign had failed to weaken Iran’s resolve, stating that despite economic and security challenges, Tehran remains committed to the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.

Araghchi also pointed to what he described as Western non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, particularly after Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement. He warned that any European move to activate the “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate UN sanctions, would be “illegal” and have serious political consequences.

Turning to regional dynamics, Araghchi said relations with Saudi Arabia had seen significant improvement, citing mutual visits and deepening political and economic cooperation. “Iranian-Saudi cooperation is a cornerstone for regional stability, particularly in the face of Israeli attempts to stoke tensions,” he noted.

He added that ties with Egypt and Bahrain were also on a positive trajectory, pointing to regular political consultations despite the absence of full diplomatic ties.

Regarding Syria, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s support for lifting international sanctions but noted that Tehran is not rushing into restoring full diplomatic relations. “When the Syrian government recognizes the potential benefits of a stronger relationship with Iran, we will be ready to respond,” he said.

Araghchi said that strengthening ties with neighboring countries remains a strategic priority for Tehran, despite the impact of US sanctions. He highlighted the continued expansion of economic partnerships with China, Russia, and other nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Addressing tensions with Israel, Araghchi said that “Israel does not dare attack Iran,” adding that Tel Aviv is well aware of Tehran’s defensive capabilities and readiness to retaliate. “Our message is clear: any aggression against Iran, regardless of its origin, will be met with a proportionate and decisive response.”

Defending Iran’s missile program and military capabilities, Araghchi insisted they serve a “purely defensive and deterrent” purpose. “Our state of readiness has proven effective in safeguarding Iran’s security,” he said.



Congress Approves Trump's $9 billion Cut to Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Congress Approves Trump's $9 billion Cut to Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The House gave final approval to President Donald Trump's request to claw back about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid early Friday as Republicans intensified their efforts to target institutions and programs they view as bloated or out of step with their agenda.

The vote marked the first time in decades that a president has successfully submitted such a rescissions request to Congress, and the White House suggested it won't be the last. Some Republicans were uncomfortable with the cuts, yet supported them anyway, wary of crossing Trump or upsetting his agenda.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 216-213. It now goes to Trump for his signature, The AP news reported.

“We need to get back to fiscal sanity and this is an important step,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Opponents voiced concerns not only about the programs targeted, but about Congress ceding its spending powers to the executive branch as investments approved on a bipartisan basis were being subsequently canceled on party-line votes. They said previous rescission efforts had at least some bipartisan buy-in and described the Republican package as unprecedented.

No Democrats supported the measure when it passed the Senate, 51-48, in the early morning hours Thursday. Final passage in the House was delayed for several hours as Republicans wrestled with their response to Democrats' push for a vote on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.

The package cancels about $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and nearly $8 billion for a variety of foreign aid programs, many designed to help countries where drought, disease and political unrest endure.

The effort to claw back a sliver of federal spending came just weeks after Republicans also muscled through Trump’s tax and spending cut bill without any Democratic support. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that measure will increase the U.S. debt by about $3.3 trillion over the coming decade.

"No one is buying the the notion that Republicans are actually trying to improve wasteful spending,” said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

A heavy blow to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting The cancellation of $1.1 billion for the CPB represents the full amount it is due to receive during the next two budget years.

The White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense.

The corporation distributes more than two-thirds of the money to more than 1,500 locally operated public television and radio stations, with much of the remainder assigned to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service to support national programming.

Democrats were unsuccessful in restoring the funding in the Senate.

Lawmakers with large rural constituencies voiced particular concern about what the cuts to public broadcasting could mean for some local public stations in their state.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said the stations are "not just your news — it is your tsunami alert, it is your landslide alert, it is your volcano alert.”

As the Senate debated the bill Tuesday, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the remote Alaska Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings on local public broadcasting stations that advised people to get to higher ground.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he secured a deal from the White House that some money administered by the Interior Department would be repurposed to subsidize Native American public radio stations in about a dozen states.

But Kate Riley, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations, a network of locally owned and operated stations, said that deal was “at best a short-term, half-measure that will still result in cuts and reduced service at the stations it purports to save.”

Inside the cuts to foreign aid Among the foreign aid cuts are $800 million for a program that provides emergency shelter, water and family reunification for refugees and $496 million to provide food, water and health care for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. There also is a $4.15 billion cut for programs that aim to boost economies and democratic institutions in developing nations.

Democrats argued that the Republican administration's animus toward foreign aid programs would hurt America's standing in the world and create a vacuum for China to fill.

“This is not an America first bill. It's a China first bill because of the void that's being created all across the world,” Jeffries said.

The White House argued that many of the cuts would incentivize other nations to step up and do more to respond to humanitarian crises and that the rescissions best served the American taxpayer.

“The money that we're clawing back in this rescissions package is the people's money. We ought not to forget that,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., chair of the House Rules Committee.

After objections from several Republicans, Senate GOP leaders took out a $400 million cut to PEPFAR, a politically popular program to combat HIV/AIDS that is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under Republican President George W. Bush.

Looking ahead to future spending fights Democrats say the bill upends a legislative process that typically requires lawmakers from both parties to work together to fund the nation’s priorities.

Triggered by the official rescissions request from the White House, the legislation only needed a simple majority vote to advance in the Senate instead of the 60 votes usually required to break a filibuster. That meant Republicans could use their 53-47 majority to pass it along party lines.

Two Republican senators, Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, joined with Democrats in voting against the bill, though a few other Republicans also raised concerns about the process.

“Let’s not make a habit of this,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who voted for the bill but said he was wary that the White House wasn’t providing enough information on what exactly will be cut.

Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the imminent successful passage of the rescissions shows “enthusiasm” for getting the nation’s fiscal situation under control.

“We’re happy to go to great lengths to get this thing done,” he said during a breakfast with reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

In response to questions about the relatively small size of the cuts -- $9 billion -- Vought said that was because “I knew it would be hard” to pass in Congress. Vought said another rescissions package is ’likely to come soon.”