Iran rejects US terms for nuclear talks revival

The Iranian envoy to the United Nations has reiterated that Tehran will not succumb to Washington’s intimidation as the two countries continue to spar over the conditions for resuming nuclear talks. The United States has been demanding a zero‑enrichment policy, a requirement Iran deems a nonstarter.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said Washington remains open to formal talks with Iran, but only if Tehran is willing to engage in direct and meaningful dialogue. Ortagus emphasized that the U.S. expects Iran to cease all uranium enrichment activities, describing this principle as non‑negotiable.

In response, Iranian UN Envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran appreciates fair and meaningful negotiations but views the U.S. demand for zero enrichment as contrary to Iran’s rights under the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Iravani asserted that the United States is not genuinely pursuing fair negotiations, but instead seeks to impose its predetermined intentions on Iran.

Negotiations to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have been stalled since June, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The U.S. and Israel described the strikes as preemptive actions aimed at halting Tehran’s progress toward a nuclear bomb, while Iranian authorities maintain that their nuclear program is purely peaceful.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Tehran will rebuild its damaged nuclear sites with “great strength,” and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized that Iran cannot stop uranium enrichment. The United States has warned that it could launch renewed strikes if Iran restarts its nuclear sites, with President Donald Trump previously cautioning that such actions would be taken if necessary.

The standoff between the United States and Iran has significant implications for regional and global security, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the negotiations. As the situation unfolds, it remains uncertain whether the two sides can reach a mutually acceptable agreement or if the dispute will further escalate.