Iran’s foreign minister vows to continue uranium enrichment, defying US military threats and questioning Washington’s commitment to nuclear negotiations.
TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has defiantly ruled out halting uranium enrichment, stating Tehran will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.
Speaking at a forum in Tehran, Araghchi declared that “no one has the right to dictate our behaviour”. He insisted Iran would maintain its enrichment activities even if conflict were imposed.
The minister expressed deep scepticism about Washington’s intentions in renewed negotiations. He cited ongoing US sanctions and military posturing as reasons for doubt.
“Their military deployment in the region does not scare us,” Araghchi said, referencing the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier’s presence in the Arabian Sea. He questioned the seriousness of US negotiators.
Direct talks between the two nations resumed in Oman on Friday for the first time in years. Iran seeks the lifting of crippling US economic sanctions.
In exchange, Araghchi said Tehran could offer “a series of confidence-building measures concerning the nuclear programme”. Western nations and Israel accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear bomb, a charge it denies.
“They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not looking for one,” the minister stated. “Our atomic bomb is the power to say ‘no’ to the great powers.”
His comments followed a visit by US lead negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday. The move signalled a persistent US military threat.
Witkoff posted on social media that the carrier strike group was “keeping us safe and upholding President Trump’s message of peace through strength”. The war threat looms over the diplomatic process.
Despite the tension, US President Donald Trump called the initial talks “very good”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also labelled them “a step forward” on social media.
However, Trump signed an executive order on Friday calling for tariffs on nations trading with Iran. The US also announced new sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports via shipping entities.
Araghchi criticised these simultaneous actions at the Tehran forum. He said they “raise doubts about the seriousness and readiness of the other side to conduct genuine negotiations”.
The minister added that Iran was “monitoring the situation closely” and would decide whether to continue the dialogue. The talks occur amid a major US military buildup in the region.
This buildup followed Iran’s crackdown on widespread protests that began in late December. The protests were initially driven by economic grievances.
Iranian authorities acknowledged 3,117 deaths in the recent unrest. On Sunday, they published a list of 2,986 names, claiming most were security forces and bystanders.
International organisations estimate a significantly higher death toll. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified 6,961 deaths, mainly protesters.
HRANA also reports over 51,000 arrests related to the protests. It has another 11,630 suspected death cases under investigation.