Iran Rejects U.S. Calls, Declares Uranium Enrichment Non-Negotiable
(MENAFN) Iran’s top nuclear official firmly rejected U.S. calls to halt uranium enrichment, asserting that the process is a non-negotiable cornerstone of the nation’s atomic program.
Speaking during an interview broadcast Sunday on a state-run broadcaster, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, defended the country's right to enrich uranium. His remarks were in response to both mounting U.S. pressure and a newly released "comprehensive" report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which scrutinized Iran’s nuclear endeavors.
"Uranium enrichment is the foundation of the nuclear industry and a red line for Tehran," Eslami said.
He argued that Iran’s entitlement to enrichment was indisputable, adding that without it, the entire nuclear fuel cycle would collapse, crippling Iran’s ability to conduct research and implement practical nuclear applications in multiple sectors.
Eslami further emphasized that enrichment is irreplaceable and described it as both an inherent right and a vital element in advancing nuclear science and technology.
He also accused several Western nations—namely France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States—along with Israel, of shaping the IAEA’s latest findings.
According to the IAEA, Iran has failed to provide satisfactory explanations for traces of nuclear material discovered at three previously unreported sites. The agency also cited Iran’s cooperation as being "less than satisfactory."
Despite this, Eslami insisted that Iran has honored its commitments under both the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. He stated that all Iranian nuclear facilities remain accessible to IAEA inspectors and have been under constant surveillance.
The report surfaced at a sensitive moment, as indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington—mediated by Oman—continue. Since April, five such meetings have taken place, with three rounds held in Muscat and two in Rome. Talks center on Iran’s nuclear development and the potential easing of U.S. sanctions.
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