Iran seeks ‘peaceful’ nuke deal with US, but won’t compromise on security – official

Iran wants to reach a “peaceful” nuclear agreement with the United States to resolve a decades-long dispute, but will not compromise its national security, the country’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said on Tuesday.

The United States, its European allies, and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear program as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Tehran, which routinely calls for the destruction of Israel, maintains that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. However, it has been enriching uranium to a level just below weapons-grade, which has no peaceful application.

Trump, during a visit to Israel in October, told the Knesset that the US is prepared to make a deal with Iran when Tehran is ready to do so, saying: “The hand of friendship and cooperation [with Iran] is open.”

Speaking at the 12th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, Khatibzadeh said Washington was sending Tehran contradictory messages about nuclear talks through third countries.

The two nations held five rounds of nuclear talks prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, in which Israel launched strikes saying it was facing an immediate existential threat. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli military sites and cities.

Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites.

A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in place since June 24.

Khatibzadeh accused Washington of “betraying diplomacy,” and the nuclear talks have stopped since the June war.

Major gaps remain between the two sides, such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which the United States wants to cut to zero to minimize any risk of weaponization, a plan Tehran has rejected.

Last week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters, such as foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat.

“Tehran is not seeking nuclear bombs and… is prepared to assure the world about it. We are very proud of our home-grown nuclear program,” Khatibzadeh said.

Earlier this month, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran will rebuild its nuclear facilities “with greater strength” while claiming again that the country does not seek atomic weapons.

Trump has warned that he would order fresh attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites should Tehran try to restart operations at facilities that the US bombed in June.