Tehran: Iran said on Monday that it would welcome the creation of a regional consortium on nuclear fuels, but said that such an initiative would not replace its uranium enrichment program. The declaration came in the midst of the information according to which Tehran had proposed the idea during indirect nuclear discussions with the United States.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, denied that Iran had officially proposed the consortium, declaring that the idea had been previously suggested by other countries. He added that Iran would participate if such an initiative was introduced, especially since regional countries were interested in developing nuclear energy infrastructure.
Baqaei pointed out that any consortium would not replace the current enrichment activities of Iran. Tehran said on several occasions that his nuclear program was not negotiable and only aimed at the development of peaceful energy.
The New York Times recently quoted named Iranian officials claiming that Tehran had proposed a joint enrichment company involving Arab countries and American investments. The initiative would have been offered as an alternative to Washington’s demand to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capacities.
The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, reiterated on Sunday that enrichment would continue with or without nuclear agreement. His remarks followed the statement of American negotiator Steve Witkoff that Washington could not allow Iran to keep even a small capacity for enrichment.
Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60%, which is significantly higher than the ceiling of 3.67% under the 2015 nuclear agreement, but still below weapons levels. Western governments, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, an affirmation that Tehran denies.
Since the resumption of American talks in Iran mediated by Oman in April, Iran has accused the United States of maintaining contradictory positions, expressing its concern about the inconsistencies between public declarations and private discussions. Araghchi described this as a source of distrust in the negotiation process.
