Iran says in US talks it’ll push for sanctions relief, keeping ‘peaceful nuclear’ program

Iran says it will seek sanctions relief and the right to peaceful nuclear energy in the fourth round of talks with the United States.

“The delegation … will spare no effort to protect the Iranian nation’s interests and safeguard our precious achievements in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, while simultaneously lifting the sanctions,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

The negotiations, mediated by Oman and held in its capital Muscat, follow earlier rounds that began nearly a month ago, marking the highest-level contact between the two foes since Washington withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal in 2018 during US President Donald Trump’s first term.

Both sides have reported progress after previous talks, but there have been some delays and disagreements over Iran’s right to enrich uranium, which Tehran says is “nonnegotiable” but 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.