Iran does not rule out resuming talks with the US over its nuclear program, but warns that there is no date for a meeting.
Iran said Monday that it has not ruled out a meeting with the United States to discuss its nuclear program, but specified that "no date" has yet been set.
"At this time, no precise date, time, or place has been set for a meeting," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said when asked by reporters about a possible meeting between Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff .
Abbas Araqchi and Donald Trump. Photo: Social media and EFE.
Since April, the two held five rounds of talks through an Omani mediator before Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, triggering a 12-day war.
Tehran and Washington were due to meet on June 15 in Oman, but the talks were cancelled due to the war, in which the United States also intervened on June 22.
We took the negotiation process seriously, we entered into it in good faith, but, as everyone has seen, the Zionist regime (Israel) in coordination with the United States militarily attacked Iran.
"We take the negotiation process seriously, we entered into it in good faith, but, as everyone has seen, the Zionist regime (Israel), in coordination with the United States, militarily attacked Iran before a sixth round" of talks, Esmail Baqai stressed.
The Fordo fuel enrichment plant in central Iran. Photo: AFP
"The United States committed a flagrant violation of international law during a diplomatic process," the Iranian diplomatic spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Iran declared its willingness to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a "new form," while reaffirming its commitment to a diplomatic solution to resolve disputes related to its nuclear program.
"Our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been interrupted, but will take a new form," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran.
Natanz nuclear facility in southern Tehran, Iran. Photo: AFP
On June 22 , the United States bombed the Fordo underground uranium enrichment site, south of Tehran, as well as nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz (center). The exact extent of the damage is unknown.
In early July, a team of IAEA inspectors left Iran to return to the organization's headquarters in Vienna, following Tehran's suspension of cooperation.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, from Argentina, reiterated "the crucial importance" of resuming talks with Iran on the conditions necessary to resume "its indispensable monitoring and verification activities as soon as possible."
During the war, Israel carried out hundreds of attacks against Iranian nuclear and military sites.
Iranian missiles seen from Jerusalem on June 14. Photo: Menahem Kahana. AFP.
Iran, which defends its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel. The country has been a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) since 1970.
The United States and Iran remain deeply divided on the issue of uranium enrichment. Tehran considers it a "non-negotiable" right to develop a civilian nuclear program, while Washington views it as a "red line."
Crater after the US attacks on Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment plant. Photo: AFP
On Saturday, Iran's top diplomat reiterated his country's opposition to any ban on uranium enrichment in a potential agreement to regulate its nuclear program.
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapons country that enriches uranium at a high level (60%), well above the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 international agreement with the major powers, from which the United States withdrew in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term.
To make a bomb, enrichment must reach up to 90%.
eltiempo
