Iran refuses to pause uranium enrichment to secure US nuclear agreement

Monday 26 May 2025 - 10:33

By: Zahouani Ilham

Iran refuses to pause uranium enrichment to secure US nuclear agreement

Iran has firmly rejected the idea of temporarily halting uranium enrichment as a condition to finalize a nuclear deal with the United States, according to a spokesperson from its foreign ministry on Monday. There is no scheduled date yet for the sixth round of negotiations with Washington.

The ongoing talks seek to settle a long-standing dispute over Iran's nuclear program, with both nations publicly maintaining strong positions on uranium enrichment. When questioned about reports suggesting Iran might freeze enrichment for three years to reach an agreement, spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that such an offer would never be accepted.

Baghaei also dismissed rumors about a possible interim deal, clarifying that no provisional agreements are being considered as a step toward a final settlement.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently described the weekend discussions between American negotiators and Iranian officials as “very good.” Iran is currently awaiting further information from Oman, which is mediating the talks, regarding the timing of the next meeting.

Baghaei emphasized that if the U.S. approaches negotiations with goodwill, Iran remains optimistic. However, if the talks aim to limit Iran’s rights, they will be futile.

The stakes are significant for both countries. The U.S. seeks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons that could provoke a regional arms race and threaten Israel, while Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and aims to end harsh sanctions damaging its oil-dependent economy.