Iran FM says right to nuclear enrichment ‘nonnegotiable,’ hopes to reach ‘decisive point’ in US talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterates that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium is “nonnegotiable,” ahead of talks with the United States.

“Enrichment capability is one of the honors and achievements of the Iranian nation,” says Araghchi in a video before departing to Muscat to attend the fourth round of talks with the US, adding that it is “nonnegotiable.”

Araghchi also says he hopes the talks will reach a “decisive point.”

“We had more consultations in Tehran this morning and in this round we hope to reach a decisive point,” he says.

Both sides have reported progress after previous talks, but there have been some delays and disagreements over Iran’s right to enrich uranium, which a US envoy has called a “red line.”

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent purity — far above the 3.67 percent limit set in the 2015 deal with the United States and other world powers, and a short technical step from the 90% needed for weapons-grade material. Tehran regularly threatens to destroy Israel, and its uranium enrichment level is far higher than necessary for civilian uses.