Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran is prepared to address U.S. concerns over its nuclear program but firmly rejected any possibility of halting uranium enrichment, calling it a “real and accepted” right.
His comments come ahead of a second round of talks with the United States scheduled for April 19 in Rome, shifting from the initially expected venue in Oman.
“We are ready to build trust and respond to legitimate concerns, but the principle of enrichment is not up for negotiation,” Araqchi told reporters following a weekly cabinet meeting.
The talks follow renewed pressure from Washington. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently stated that Iran must “stop and dismantle” its uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons program. Speaking to Fox News, Witkoff said the Trump administration seeks to cap Iran’s enrichment at 3.67%, the level agreed upon in the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.
“Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and must not enrich uranium beyond 3.67%,” Witkoff emphasized.
Araqchi responded by accusing the U.S. of inconsistency, stating that Washington’s real position must be clarified at the negotiation table, especially in light of Witkoff’s “conflicting” statements since the first round of talks.
Before the Rome meeting, Araqchi is scheduled to visit Moscow on April 17, further underlining Iran’s diplomatic efforts to build regional consensus.
While Trump has repeatedly declared that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, analysts point to contradictions in U.S. messaging. A senior U.S. official told Axios on April 16 that the administration’s Iran policy remains unclear, largely due to internal political divisions.
“Iran policy isn’t very coherent at the moment, mostly because it’s still being defined. It’s highly politically charged,” the anonymous official was quoted as saying.
Former U.S. diplomat Mark Fitzpatrick warned that a breakthrough is unlikely unless Washington moderates its stance.
“Trump will need to shift from a ‘zero enrichment’ demand to accepting some form of low-level enrichment,” Fitzpatrick told Radio Farda of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
As both sides prepare for critical discussions, the outcome of this round could determine whether diplomatic engagement continues or tensions escalate once again.
