Iran rejects claims of losing control over nuclear talks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied recent claims that it is no longer in charge of negotiations regarding the country's nuclear program.

Responding to questions from reporters on February 4, the Ministry's public relations department emphasized that the status quo remains unchanged, with the Ministry continuing to oversee nuclear talks, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of the talks and negotiations on the nuclear issue, as it has been in the past. This responsibility is managed by the honorable minister and carried out by the political, legal, and international deputies," the statement read.

The Ministry also reiterated that while it handles the day-to-day management of negotiations, the Supreme National Security Council remains the central authority in shaping Iran's nuclear strategy and coordinating among the relevant organizations.

This clarification follows media speculation suggesting that Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has assumed primary responsibility for handling the nuclear discussions. However, the Ministry's statement firmly rejected these reports, confirming that its role in overseeing the negotiations persists.

In January 2025, Iran's nuclear talks encountered significant hurdles, with reports suggesting that the negotiations were on the brink of collapse due to differing demands from the involved parties. One of the major points of contention was Russia's insistence on securing sanctions protection for its own economic interests. This demand proved to be a significant obstacle for the rest of the international negotiators, particularly the European Union and the United States, who viewed such demands as potentially undermining the broader goals of the nuclear deal.

By Khagan Isayev