Iran’s FM: We have ‘no desire’ for talks with US, ‘cannot stop uranium enrichment’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran has no desire for direct talks with the US over its nuclear or missile program, insisting that the Islamic Republic would not give up its ability to enrich uranium.

“We will never negotiate our missile program, and no rational actor would disarm. We cannot stop uranium enrichment, and what cannot be achieved by war cannot be achieved through politics. We have no desire for direct talks with Washington, but can reach an agreement for indirect negotiations,” he tells the Qatari Al Jazeera outlet.

“We are ready to negotiate to remove concerns about our nuclear program and are confident in its peaceful nature. Reaching a fair agreement is possible, but Washington has proposed unacceptable and impossible conditions,” he says.

“Nuclear materials remained under the rubble of the attacked nuclear facilities and were not transferred elsewhere. The technology exists, despite the losses,” he says, referring to attacks by Israel and the US in June on the country’s nuclear program.

“Tehran is prepared for all possibilities and expects any aggressive behavior from Israel,” he states.