Iran will not consider temporarily suspending uranium enrichment to secure a nuclear deal with the US, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington. Meanwhile, the country’s president appeared to downplay the consequences should talks fall apart, saying Iran won’t starve under sanctions.
The negotiations between Washington and Tehran aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and both sides have taken a tough stance in public over the issue of Iran’s uranium enrichment. Asked about reports that Iran could freeze enrichment for three years to reach an agreement, spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told a press conference: “Iran will never accept that.”
Baqaei also ruled out the possibility of an interim nuclear deal with the US, dismissing media reports that a provisional agreement was being considered as a temporary step toward a final deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday Iran would be fine even if the sides are unable to come to a deal and more sanctions are applied, according to state media. (Read More)
