Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed insider information about negotiations between Tehran and the US to hand over 440 kilograms of enriched uranium to the country 48 hours before the outbreak of war.
Araghchi’s comments came during an interview with CBS, where he was asked about how he informed the meeting participants about the presence of the material in Iran during the talks in Geneva on February 26.
At the time, he said Iran was ready to give nuclear material away, which was mentioned in the deal Oman presented to US Vice President JD Vance.
Speaking about Oman’s offer, Araghchi said it was one of the elements in the then ongoing talks with the US.
“That was one of the elements of the agreement we negotiated with our American partners. That element dealt with the issue of Iranian material enriched by 60 percent,” Iran’s foreign minister said in an interview.
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Abbas Araghchi reveals insider details
Abbas Araghchi, further revealing the deal, described Iran’s offer as a “big concession”.
“I said, I actually offered, that we’re prepared to dilute that enriched material, or mix it up, as they say, to a lower percentage,” he said.
Iran’s foreign minister noted that his country’s bid was to prove it never wanted nuclear weapons.
“So it was a big offer, a big concession to prove that Iran never wanted nuclear weapons and never will,” Araghchi said.
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Nothing on the table now
When asked whether Iran is willing to give up 440 kg of nuclear material right now, Abbas Araghchi replied that nothing of the sort is being counted right now.
“Well, nothing is on the table now. Everything depends on the future,” he said.
However, Araghchi held out hope for a future where Iran could engage with other countries. “If at any time in the future we decide to enter into negotiations with the US or other partners, we can decide what to put on the table. For now, there is nothing on the table,” the foreign minister said.
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No truce with the US
Abbas Araghchi denied that he was seeking talks or a ceasefire with the US.
“The reason we say we don’t want a ceasefire is not because we seek war, but because this time this war must end so that our enemies never think of repeating these attacks,” Araghchi told a press conference on Monday. “I think they have already learned a good lesson and understand what kind of nation they are dealing with.”
US President Donald Trump has defended his administration’s military action against Iran, even as the move has confused some of the “America First” wing of the Republican Party and contributed to rising gas prices.
Trump has argued that the moves are justified, saying Iran has been causing problems for the United States for nearly half a century.
US Vice President JD Vance said he agreed with Donald Trump that Iran should not have nuclear weapons and that the recent military action was carried out under the president’s direction.
“I agree with the president that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. We took this military action under the president’s leadership. All of us — whether Democrats or Republicans — should be praying for the success and safety of our troops,” he said.
Key things
- Iran has been willing to negotiate the transfer of enriched uranium as a means of demonstrating its nonaggression regarding nuclear weapons.
- The timing of the offer raises questions about the diplomatic strategies used by both Iran and the US.
- Future negotiations between Iran and the US may still be possible depending on the geopolitical environment.
