Iran’& rsquo; s right to enrich uranium is not flexible, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Wednesday ahead of a second round of talks set to take place in Rome this weekend with the United States about Tehran’& rsquo; s disputed nuclear programme.The talks, which began in Oman on Saturday with the Gulf state serving as arbitrator, are the first between the two enemies under U.S.
President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action if there is no deal.Araqchi was responding to a comment made on Tuesday by top U.S.
mediator Steve Witkoff, who stated the Islamic Republic must “& ldquo; stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment” & rdquo; to reach a handle Washington.“& ldquo; We have actually heard contradictory declarations from Witkoff, but real positions will be explained at the negotiating table,” & rdquo; Araqchi was estimated by Iranian state media as stating in Tehran.“& ldquo; We are ready to build trust regarding possible issues over Iran’& rsquo; s enrichment, however the concept of enrichment is not flexible.”& rdquo; Last weekend & rsquo; s U.S.-Iran talks in Oman were explained by both sides as favorable and constructive.Western powers state Iran is improving uranium to a high degree of fissile pureness beyond what is justifiable for a civilian energy programme and near to the level suitable for atomic bomb fuel.
Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.Iranian media said on Wednesday, without citing sources, that the 2nd round of talks would be kept in the Italian capital Rome on Saturday.
It was earlier announced that the talks would resume in Oman.Sources briefed on the matter validated the change of location to Reuters.Iran’& rsquo; s foreign ministry representative Esmaeil Baghaei compared the location of the Iran-US nuclear speak with a goalpost in a post on X on Wednesday, stating moving it might “& ldquo; endanger any beginning” & rdquo; which changing it was a “& ldquo; expert mistake”& rdquo;.
A diplomatic source said Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.
nuclear watchdog whose inspectors keep an eye on Iranian nuclear sites, had actually also been invited to Rome for the celebration of the talks.Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the talks would be in held in Rome but said Italy would not be included.“& ldquo; Italy merely wants to be a bridge for peace; we have no ambitions of any kind.
Such a delicate settlement is up to the parties included and their willingness to attain a concrete result,” & rdquo; Tajani said in a statement.On Thursday Araqchi will deliver a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a journey to Russia, state media reported.“& ldquo; Amidst essential international advancements, close, continuous and relying on communication in between Iranian and Russian authorities will serve local in addition to worldwide peace and stability,” & rdquo; Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali wrote on X.The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to comment when asked if Russia was prepared to take control of Iran’& rsquo; s stocks of enriched uranium as part of a possible future nuclear deal between Iran and the United States.Britain’& rsquo; s Guardian newspaper reported that Tehran was expected to decline a U.S.
proposal to move its stockpile of enriched uranium to a third nation such as Russia as part of an offer Washington is looking for to curb Iran’& rsquo; s nuclear activity.The post Iran says its right to uranium enrichment is non-negotiable initially appeared on TINS News.