Iran declares no quick US nuclear deal in sight: 'Talks serve dignity, not surrender'

Senior Iranian officials have rejected growing speculation about an imminent nuclear agreement with the United States, insisting that any deal must fully lift sanctions and allow Tehran to continue its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment.

 

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a key figure in Iran’s diplomatic efforts, made clear that Tehran remains open to negotiations but not at any cost. "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran’s nuclear rights—including enrichment," Araghchi wrote in a post on X.

 

Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reinforced this stance. He accused Washington of pursuing unrealistic goals and warned that Iran’s nuclear red lines remain firmly in place. "Talks serve progress, interests and dignity, not coercion or surrender,” he said. Shamkhani added that previous US presidents had also entertained “fantasies” about dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, with no success.

 

These remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who said he had recently urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on a military strike against Iran. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump revealed he had asked Israel to delay any action while the US pursues what he described as a promising diplomatic track. "I told them it was not appropriate to attack Tehran because I believed I could reach a deal within weeks," Trump said.

 

At the core of the proposed deal is a controversial provision under which Iran would grant American inspectors direct access to its nuclear facilities—a step beyond current arrangements that involve oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog. Trump described the plan as "very strong," saying it would allow the US to enter sites, remove materials and even destroy facilities if necessary. "We can blow up a lab, but nobody is gonna be in a lab," he added, emphasising a non-lethal approach.

 

Iranian officials responded cautiously. Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said the country might allow some US inspections, but only under conditions that preserved Iran’s sovereignty and its right to enrich uranium. "We cannot depend on imported fuel," he said.

 

Diplomatic tensions rose further when Araghchi threatened to halt ongoing talks with European officials, after UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson appeared to support longstanding US calls for Iran to give up uranium enrichment entirely.

 

Hard-liners in Tehran issued stronger responses. Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, dismissed Trump’s remarks as “a combination of illusion, bluff, delirium and confusion,” rejecting the notion that Iran would ever dismantle its nuclear infrastructure.

 

Despite the heated rhetoric, indirect negotiations between the US and Iran have continued in recent weeks. Five rounds of talks have taken place in Oman and Rome, according to officials. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said the latest round, held last Friday, produced “some but not conclusive progress” and that more discussions are expected.

 

Meanwhile, IAEA officials visited Tehran this week, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to Oman for a state visit, suggesting that diplomacy remains active even amid public posturing.

 

While the US seeks to restrict Iran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief, Israeli officials remain sceptical of any deal that does not result in the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israeli sources said Iran’s nuclear ambitions are embedded in its national ethos and warned that any agreement falling short of eliminating Iran’s enrichment capacity would not be acceptable. “Israel will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons,” the officials said. “All top security officials believe an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites is possible and necessary.”

 

Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani, have reportedly urged Trump to continue diplomatic efforts and avoid military escalation. All three countries host US military bases and fear retaliatory attacks from Iran if its facilities are targeted. They were previously critical of the 2015 nuclear deal but now appear to favour renewed diplomacy.

 

Concerns about Iran’s nuclear intentions were reinforced this week by a report from Austria’s domestic intelligence service, which claimed Iran is continuing its weapons programme despite public assurances. “The Iranian nuclear weapons development programme is well advanced, and Iran possesses a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances,” the report concluded.

Middle East