DUBAI — In a world where diplomacy often walks a tightrope, Iran has taken a firm stand. On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry made it clear that the country will not agree to any temporary stop in its uranium enrichment program — even if it means walking away from a possible nuclear deal with the United States, reported by the Reuters.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei Kani told reporters that Iran “will never accept” freezing uranium enrichment, not even for three years as some reports had suggested. His words rang with finality, closing the door on what many hoped could be a stepping stone toward peace.
“No pause, no compromise,” seemed to be Iran’s message as Baghaei also denied rumors of an interim or temporary agreement being discussed with Washington. He brushed off media chatter, saying such suggestions were “not on the table.”
Talks between Iran and the U.S. — aimed at settling a long-running dispute over Tehran’s nuclear activities — have been tense. Although both countries have spoken publicly in hard tones, they continue to meet through mediators like Oman. Baghaei confirmed that Iran is still waiting for Oman to provide a date for the next round of negotiations.
Former President Donald Trump, who had previously pulled the U.S. out of the original 2015 nuclear deal, recently said that weekend talks between U.S. negotiators and Iranian officials were “very good.” Still, no details were shared, leaving observers guessing about what progress — if any — had been made.
The stakes in these talks are sky-high. The United States wants to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon — something that could ignite a regional arms race and put countries like Israel at risk. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and only meant for civilian use. It wants the U.S. to lift painful economic sanctions that have crippled its oil-reliant economy.
“If there is goodwill from the American side, we are also optimistic,” Baghaei said, adding a note of hope. “But if talks aim to take away Iran’s rights, they will lead nowhere.”
As the world watches, the clock ticks. Whether diplomacy will triumph or tensions will rise once more remains to be seen — but for now, Iran is not backing down.
