Iran Firmly Opposes US Involvement in Uranium Enrichment Decisions
U.S. should not have influence over Iran's uranium enrichment, according to Khamenei. - U.S. should not interfere with Iran's uranium enrichment process, according to Khamenei.
In a fiery address commemorating Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's 36th anniversary, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Chamenei took a hard stance against the United States' involvement in the country's uranium enrichment policies. Chamenei claimed that the US proposal for the nuclear standoff between the two nations was a direct threat to Iran's national interests.
The latest round of talks between Washington and Tehran on a potential new nuclear agreement began in mid-April, after the first five rounds of discussions failed to produce results. The most contentious issue in these negotiations is undoubtedly the uranium enrichment process. Last Saturday, the US submitted a fresh negotiating proposal to Tehran through Oman.
As reported by Axios, the newest US proposal allows for limited uranium enrichment at low levels. Previously, President Donald Trump had been adamant that the US would never allow any enrichment in a potential nuclear deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Tuesday that Iran would not accept a nuclear agreement that prohibits it from enriching uranium for civilian purposes. Araghchi stressed that continued enrichment on Iranian soil is a non-negotiable red line.
Iran: Continued Enrichment-Right and Regional Consortium Advocate
Iran firmly believes in its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, insisting that any deal must account for some level of enrichment on its soil [2][3]. Additionally, Iran has expressed openness to the idea of a regional uranium enrichment consortium, as long as it's based within Iranian territory, thus permitting international oversight while retaining their enrichment capabilities [1].
US: Flexible in Private but Rigid in Public Proposals
In private discussions, the US has shown some flexibility, hinting at allowing limited low-level uranium enrichment in Iran for a designated period [2]. However, in the public sphere, the US maintains a firm stance against enrichment, with President Trump emphasizing that Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium [3]. Moreover, the US has pressed for an immediate halt to enrichment as a condition for relieving sanctions, positioning itself in direct opposition to Iran's views [3].
The vast disparities in these stances reveal the intricacies and obstacles faced when negotiating a nuclear agreement between the two nations.
In the midst of the ongoing nuclear dispute, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed his strong opposition to the USA's involvement in Iran's right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, during an address telecasted on television. Despite some level of flexibility shown by the USA in private negotiations, they maintain a rigid stance against enrichment in the public sphere, further exacerbating the political and general-news tension between the two nations.
