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Iran Rejects Negotiations Before Easing American Pressure... Warnings of Accelerated Nuclear Program
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The message from US President Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei reflects an American approach to exhaust diplomatic solutions before considering military options for addressing the nuclear issu
Tehran is preparing to respond to an initiative from US President Donald Trump offering negotiations on a new nuclear agreement. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff clarified today, Sunday, that the message addressed to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei represents an attempt to avoid military options. He told Fox News, "We don't need to resolve everything militarily."
Witkoff added, "Our message to Iran is: Let's sit together and see if we can, through dialogue and diplomacy, reach the right solution. If we can, we're ready for that. And if we can't, the alternative is not a good option."
For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that engaging in discussions with the United States is unlikely unless Washington modifies its pressure policy.
He explained, "When we say no to negotiations with the United States, it stems from history and experience," referring to Trump's withdrawal during his first term from the nuclear agreement that Tehran concluded with six major powers in 2015.
Araghchi continued, "In my opinion, the 2015 agreement cannot be revived in its current form. That would not be in our interest, because our nuclear position has developed significantly, and it's no longer possible to return to previous conditions." However, he indicated that the 2015 agreement could still form "a basis and model for negotiation."
Trump had previously revealed earlier this month that he sent the message to Khamenei, warning that "there are two ways to deal with Iran: militarily or through reaching an agreement."
Khamenei rejected the American offer to enter into talks, describing it as "deception" and adding that negotiating with the Trump administration "would lead to tightening sanctions and increasing pressure on Iran."
While Trump has kept the door open for reaching a nuclear agreement with Tehran, he has renewed the application of the "maximum pressure" policy he followed during his first term, which includes efforts to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. The US administration has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Iranian oil sales since Trump's return to the White House.
After Trump's withdrawal in 2018, he resumed imposing US sanctions that negatively affected the Iranian economy. A year later, Tehran began exceeding the restrictions imposed by the agreement on its nuclear program, surpassing them by stages. Indirect talks over months between Tehran and Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, failed to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned last month that time is running out to reach an agreement to control Iran's nuclear program, as Tehran continues to accelerate uranium enrichment to levels approaching weapons-grade.
Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to a purity level of up to 60%, which exceeds what is required for the civilian use that Tehran claims is the goal of its nuclear program. Iranian authorities claim that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that they adhere to their commitments under international law.
