Iran signals conditional openness to nuclear talks with US

Iran has indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations with the United States, provided that the discussions focus solely on addressing concerns about the possible militarization of its nuclear program, the country’s mission to the United Nations stated on March 9 in a post on X.

However, Tehran firmly rejected any talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear program, which it insists remains peaceful, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The statement follows remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on March 8 dismissed negotiations under what he described as U.S. "bullying."

“If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-à-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration,” the Iranian U.N. mission wrote. “However, should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program ... such negotiations will never take place.”

Khamenei reiterated Tehran’s resistance to what he described as excessive U.S. demands. “They are bringing up new demands that certainly will not be accepted by Iran, like our defence capabilities, missile range and international influence,” he was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

The latest development comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a March 7 interview with Fox Business Network that he wanted to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House, revealed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s leadership suggesting talks. Washington and its allies have expressed growing concerns that Iran is approaching the capability to produce nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has consistently denied.

During his first term as president from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a landmark agreement that imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 and the reimposition of heavy sanctions under a "maximum pressure" campaign, Iran gradually abandoned the JCPOA’s restrictions and significantly expanded its uranium enrichment efforts.

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has warned that diplomatic efforts to restrain Iran’s nuclear advancements are running out of time, as Tehran continues to accelerate enrichment to levels close to weapons-grade. Despite this, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

By Vugar Khalilov