Araghchi: Preserving enrichment and nuclear infrastructure is non-negotiable

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, in a joint meeting with the delegation of the Pugwash International Conference, held on Friday night hosted by the Atomic Energy Organization, underscored the Islamic Republic of Iran’s logical stance on the necessity of Iran benefiting from its legal rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Referring to four rounds of indirect negotiations with the United States, the Foreign Minister stated: As a country with long-standing membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the initiator of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in West Asia, the Islamic Republic of Iran decided to enter indirect negotiations with the United States with seriousness and good faith, and has so far demonstrated its steadfastness and commitment transparently.

According to Araghchi, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to build confidence regarding the continued peaceful nature of its nuclear program but cannot compromise on the inalienable and legal right of the Iranian nation to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment, which is granted to every member state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The head of the diplomatic apparatus, pointing to the significant material and human costs the Iranian nation has borne to safeguard its rights to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy, added: Over the past three decades, the Iranian nation has paid a heavy price to maintain its independence and achieve nuclear technology and enrichment. In addition to enduring illegal and unjust sanctions, it has sacrificed its finest sons in this path. Therefore, Iranians will not accept being deprived of a peaceful nuclear industry as a steadfast member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which considers the production and use of nuclear weapons forbidden.

Araghchi, while honoring the memory of Iran’s martyred nuclear scientists, emphasized that Iran is determined to advance its knowledge and technology in peaceful nuclear energy and is simultaneously ready for dialogue and engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other parties to build confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

The Foreign Minister described the contradictory statements of U.S. officials and their inconsistent remarks as complicating the negotiation process further and increasing uncertainty about the United States’ seriousness and readiness to adhere to the requirements of a diplomatic process.

He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, regardless of media hype, will remain focused on advancing its principled and legal positions within the framework of Iran’s international commitments and rights.

Araghchi, in another part of his remarks, described the frequent changes in U.S. positions and the multiplicity of their spokespersons as obstacles to successful negotiations.

Referring to the formation of a coalition of disruptive forces led by the Zionist regime to influence American policymakers and negotiators, he asserted: It has become clear to all that warmongering and anti-diplomacy circles within the United States are working in coordination to negatively impact the negotiation process. However, this is an internal issue for the U.S. government, and it is entirely unacceptable for American decision-makers to repeatedly set new negotiation frameworks under pressure from warmongering U.S. circles—aligned with Netanyahu’s dangerous ambitions—causing delays and prolonging the negotiation process.

The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international non-governmental organization with a nearly 70-year history, established to serve humanity through the advancement of sciences, including the peaceful use of nuclear energy.